Unfortunately, the enterprise remained prospective.
Its projector had already become "inveigled into another
side-line," as he told Adams. One of his sons had persuaded him
to take up a "cough-lozenge," to be called the "Jalamb Balm
Trochee"; and the lozenge did well enough to amuse Mr. Lamb and
occupy his spare time, which was really about all he had asked of
the glue project. He had "all the MONEY anybody ought to want,"
he said, when Adams urged him; and he could "start up this little
glue side-line" at any time; the formula was safe in their two
heads.
At intervals Adams would seek opportunity to speak of "the little
glue side-line" to his patron, and to suggest that the years were
passing; but Lamb, petting other hobbies, had lost interest.
"Oh, I'll start it up some day, maybe. If I don't, I may turn it
over to my heirs: it's always an asset, worth something or other,
of course. We'll probably take it up some day, though, you and
I."
The sun persistently declined to rise on that day, and, as time
went on, Adams saw that his rather timid urgings bored his
employer, and he ceased to bring up the subject. Lamb apparently
forgot all about glue, but Adams discovered that unfortunately
there was someone else who remembered it.
"It's really YOURS," she argued, that painful day when for the
first time she suggested his using his knowledge for the benefit
of himself and his family.
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