“It’s so—so ungentlemanly a business.”
“I don’t agree with you, Mr. Jones; I think it perfectly respectable.”
“Oh, yes, of course; but it is not high-toned, you’ll admit that.”
“Perhaps not,” said Gilbert, with a smile. “I don’t pretend to be a judge of what is high-toned. I hope you won’t cut my acquaintance, Mr. Jones, because I am a newsboy.”
“Oh, no, of course not; but I am afraid your friends, the Vivians, will.”
“I hope not,” said Gilbert.
Alphonso Jones departed, and next in order came John,—Gilbert’s successor at the broker’s.
“Oh, my eye!” he exclaimed, in genuine astonishment; “you don’t mean to say you’ve turned newsboy?”
“Yes, I have. Will you buy a paper?”
“Haven’t got a cent. How’s business?” asked John, with a grin.