"Would you like it?"
"No. I'm going to be a lawyer or a civil engineer—I haven't decided which."
Gerald smiled. He had very little faith in Abel's ever being either.
CHAPTER XII
A GROCER'S CLERK
Early Monday morning Gerald went over to Mr. Tubbs's grocery store and reported for duty. The grocer gave him some instructions as to the prices of leading commodities, and he took his place behind the counter. There was a young man of twenty-one in the grocer's employ—a cousin of Mrs. Tubbs's, named Charles Brandon. He was rather an unattractive-looking young man, with a pimply face, and small eyes with a shifting expression. Gerald already knew him slightly, but did not like him. Twice he had seen him under the influence of liquor and knew that he frequented a billiard-room in the village patronized by a low class of young men.
"So we are going to be fellow-clerks, eh?" said Brandon, with a disagreeable smile.
"I suppose so."
"I always looked upon you as one of the tip-tops! I never thought you would be willing to become a boy in a grocery!"
"I am not willing."