“I could sweep and run errands and—and wash windows and the like of that,” replied the applicant imperturbably. “I’ll tell you how it is, sir. I live out to Derry, and——”
“What’s your name?”
“Tom Pollock, sir.”
“I didn’t know there were any Pollocks in Derry.”
“There ain’t, sir, except me. I live with my uncle, Mr. Bowles.”
“Israel Bowles?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hm. So you’re Israel’s nephew, eh? Didn’t know he had any kin. Well, all right. Then what?”
“I’m going to high school next week,” went on the boy. He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully and sometimes correcting himself as he talked. “I got to live in town because, you see, I couldn’t get back and forth every day.”