Mr. Aston was there too now. Sam was duly introduced and behaved with great discretion. He was far less abashed by Mr. Aston than by Aymer, whose physical condition produced a shyness not inherent in the youth.
Mr. Aston talked to him in a friendly gossiping way, then looked across at Aymer with a faint nod.
Aymer unfolded his scheme of carrying out Sam’s ambitions to a fruitful end. He was to go for a year to a commercial school, and after that to be put into a good firm as pupil or ’prentice with a chance of becoming a junior partner with a small capital if he did well.
“If you don’t do well, of course it’s off,” concluded Aymer, rather wearily, “the future is in your hands, not ours: we only supply an opportunity.”
Sam said stolidly he quite understood that: that he was much obliged, and he’d do his best.
“It will be a race between you,” remarked Mr. Aston, looking from one boy to the other, “as to whether you become a full-fledged grocer first or Christopher a full-fledged engineer.”
But late that night when Mr. Aston was bidding Aymer good-night, he remarked as he stood looking down at him:
“You have done a good piece of road-making to-day, old man.”
“No, I haven’t,” retorted Aymer, rather crossly. “I’ve only supplied material for someone else to use if they like.” 158
“Just to please Christopher?”