"Do you think you could keep things in proper shape here? There's plenty of work to be done, and at present we are getting none of the best."
"I'd like to have a chance to try, sir."
"Very well; I'll see to the red tape of the business down-stairs and in the meanwhile do you set about doing whatever you think is necessary. If 'Lish Davis wasn't mistaken, I'll see to it you get all the instruction in this portion of the building that you can stagger under, and it may be we'll put a little more muscle into you 'twixt now and the next few months."
Then, without having specified what it was he wished Seth to busy himself with, the gray-haired man turned to leave the gymnasium, when he suddenly stopped and asked sharply:
"Have you been to breakfast?"
"No, sir; I was told that I'd get my grub here."
"Then why didn't you 'tend to it when you first came in?"
"'Cause I met you, sir."
"I suppose you hadn't thought you might be needing something to eat?"
"It would have been no great matter, sir. I've got along until noon a good many days without anythin', an' can do it again."