“Ah! Familiar with bookkeeping, or accounting? I suppose you can't run one of these typewriting machines?”
In regard to each of these lines of effort Cameron was forced to confess ignorance.
“I say!” cried Mr. Denman, “those old country people seriously annoy me with their inadequate system of education!”
“I am afraid,” replied Cameron, “the fault is more mine than the system's.”
“Don't know about that! Don't know about that!” replied Mr. Denman quickly; “I have had scores of young men, fine young men, too, come to me; public school men, university men, but quite unfit for any practical line of work.”
Mr. Denman considered for some moments. “Let us see. You have done some work in a law office. Now,” Mr. Denman spoke with some hesitation; “I have a place in my own office here—not much in it for the present, but—”
“To tell the truth,” interrupted Cameron, “I did not make much of the law; in fact, I do not think I am suited for office work. I would prefer something in the open. I had thought of the land.”
“Farming,” exclaimed Mr. Denman. “Ah!—you would, I suppose, be able to invest something?”
“No,” said Cameron, “nothing.”
Denman shook his head. “Nothing in it! You would not earn enough to buy a farm about here in fifteen years.”