The man glanced up and down at his visitor and said doubtfully,—
“Don’t know you—are you in the trade?”
“No, I’ve just left school.”
“What do you know about books?”
“I love them,” replied the candidate simply.
The bookseller’s face lit up and shot a glow of hope into the boy’s heart.
“You love them. I like that. But take my advice, young fellow, and if you love books, don’t turn bookseller.”
Jeffreys’ face fell.
“I’m not afraid of getting to hate them,” said he.
The man beamed again.