"So they say." And Archie laughed again, pleased by this time.
"But, you know, lad, you are very young to be going away to seek your fortune."
"I'll get over that, sir."
"I hope so. Of course, you won't go pottering after gold!"
"I don't know. If I thought I would find lots, I would go like a shot."
"Well, take my advice, and don't. There, I do not want to discourage you; but you better turn your mind to farming—to squatting."
"That wouldn't be very genteel, would it?"
"Genteel! Why, lad, if you're going to go in for genteelity, you'd best have stayed at home."
"Well, but I have an excellent education. I can write like copper-plate. I am a fair hand at figures, and well up in Latin and Greek; and——"
"Ha! ha! ha!" Captain Vesey laughed aloud. "Latin and Greek, eh? You must keep that to yourself, boy."