How we cite our quotes: The book doesn't have numbered or titled chapters, but it is broken up into sections with sub-sections under these. We'll call this Chapter:Section:Paragraph.
Quote #1
In the past when bad times came he had somehow lived through them, and when good times returned, they more or less returned to him. But now, since the appearance of H. Schmitz across the street ten months ago, all times were bad. (1.2.83)
Among Morris's many woes, he now has competition for customers with another grocery store across the way.
Quote #2
Morris told himself to stay away but he could not help coming nightly to inspect, appraise, then guess the damage, in dollars, to himself. Each night as he looked, in his mind he destroyed what had been built, tried to make of it nothing, but the growth was too quick. (1.2.90)
He knew before the new store opened that it spelled trouble for his own business. Unfortunately for him, all he could do was watch and wait for the damage to be done. He just simply wasn't a natural salesperson. He couldn't counter it. He didn't know how, and he hasn't learned since.
Quote #3
A storekeeper could tell almost at once when times were getting better. People seemed less worried and irritable, less in competition for the little sunlight in the world. (3.3.1)
Storekeeper is a good name for Morris. He keeps his store, but he doesn't grow it or make it into something better. He's more or less just there to do the business, as if the business just naturally happened or not without his efforts.