"Don't imagine I shall set you to work," continued Mr. Burton hastily.
"I'd rather work if there was anything I could do."
"I am afraid there wouldn't be," was the reply. "Ours is a trade that has, for the most part, to be learned."
"I suppose so."
"No, I shall not set you to work—or entertain you, either. You will have to look out for yourself. However, as you say, it may amuse you to go to the store, and perhaps when you get there you can make some sort of a niche for yourself. We'll see."
"Certainly there must be errands to run," Christopher suggested.
Mr. Burton eyed the boy pleasantly, but shook his head.
"Even our errands have to be detailed to skilled men—at least, most of them. Now and then, it is true, there are ordinary messages to be delivered; but in most cases any packages we send out are too valuable to be entrusted to boys your age. They might be held up."
"Held up!" repeated Christopher incredulously.
"Surely. Such things have happened," Mr. Burton nodded. "We never feel safe about sending out valuable goods unless they are well guarded."