THE TURNING SHOP
And often, as one went, hour after hour, one kept asking, “Had Mr. Andrews knowledge of this, and this, and that?”
“Yes, of everything—he knew everything,” would be the patient answer.
“And could he do this, and this, and this?” one kept on.
“He could do anything,” would be the answer.
“Even how to drive an engine?”
“Surely.”
“And how to rivet a plate?”
“He could have built a ship himself, and fitted her—yes, and sailed her too”—was the answer we got; and then as one dragged wearily towards the gateway (outside which, you will remember, young Tom waited one bitter morning, disappointed but staunch) the guide, noting one’s plight, said, “You will sleep well to-night?”
Why, yes, one felt like sleeping for a week!