“NORMAN BRYAN CORKEY.”
and then a messenger, who wore a blue tail-coat with a glittering disc
of silver on his breast, showed me up to the Country Department. It was
at the very top of the edifice—a long room with desks arranged in such a
way that the light from the stately windows should fall upon them. About
thirty-five men of all ages pursued their avocation of making policies
in this great room. The Chief had an apartment leading out of this, and
usually he sat in great seclusion, pondering over the affairs of the
Department. He was a big and a stout man, with a florid face and a beard
and mustache of brown hair. His eyes were grey and penetrating. They
roamed over the Department sometimes, when he came to the door of his
own room; and he saw instantly everything that was going on and noted it
down, in a capacious memory, for future use. Everybody liked him, for he
was a kind and a good and a patient man, and his ability must have been
very great to have reached such a high position; for he was much younger
than many other men who were under him. He welcomed me with friendliness
and hoped I should settle down and soon take to the work.
He said:
“Be industrious, Mr. Corkey, and let me have the pleasure of reporting
favourably when the time comes to give an account of your labours to the
Secretary.”