"Oh ... everything! Whatever there is to find out!"
"I sometimes think," said Uncle William, "you can find out all there is to find out at home, if you have enough gumption in you to find out anything at all. Have you told your ma yet?"
John shook his head.
"It'll want a bit of telling," Uncle William prophesied.
"I daresay, but she'll have plenty of time to get used to it. I'm not going this minute. I'm going to try and do some writing at home first, 'til I get my hand in. Then when I think I know something about the job, I'll go and see what I can make out of it."
Uncle William sat in silence for a few moments, tapping noiselessly on the desk with his fingers.
"It's a pity you've no notion of the grocery," he said. "This shop'll be yours one of these days!"
"I haven't any fancy for it," John replied.
"I know you haven't. It's a pity all the same. I suppose, when I'm dead, you'll sell the shop!"
"You're in no notion of dying yet awhile, Uncle William. A hearty man like you'll outlive us all!"