"But you said you meant to locate something to do," the man argued, nonplussed, "after you had looked around a trifle."
Steve's eyes dropped toward the white drill trousers and big boots, the latter half-hidden from sight by the swirling water.
"I got to earn money first," he explained patiently. "I—I jest couldn't git to go to school—in these here clothes!"
"Oh!" murmured Caleb. "Oh!" And then, recovering himself: "That'll take a long time," he ventured.
The boy smiled, strangely—the first smile of man's sophistication which Caleb had seen upon his face.
"I've always hed to wait a long time fer everything I've wanted," he answered, "but I always git it, just the same, if I only want it hard enough."
[Illustration: "I've always hed to wait a long time for everything
I've wanted," the boy answered, "but I always get it, just the same,
if I only want it hard enough.">[
Caleb cleared his throat, self-consciously.