"Don't be an ass! I beg pardon," he
added, turning to Mrs. Dunn, who was meantime greatly amused.
"A hundred dollars a month; that is--I am so weak in arithmetic--twenty
pounds, I understand. Go on, Martin; I'm waiting for the carriage and
pair."
"That's where you get left," said Martin. "No carriage and pair for this
chap yet awhile; overalls and slouch hat for the next five years for
him. Then he begins contracting on his own."
"I beg your pardon," says "Lily."
"I mean he begins taking jobs on his own."
"Great!" cried Miss Brodie.
"Or," continued Martin, now fairly started on a favourite theme, "there
are the railroads all shouting for men of experience, whether in the
construction department or in the operating department."
"Does anyone here happen to understand him?" inquires "Lily" faintly.
"Certainly," cried Miss Brodie; "all the intelligent people do. At
least, I've a kind of notion there are big things doing. I only wish I
were a man!"
"Oh, Miss Brodie, how can you?" cried "Lily." "Think of us in such a
contingency!"
"But," said Mr. Rae, "all of this is most interesting, extremely
interesting, Mr. Martin. Still, they cannot all arrive at these exalted
positions."
"No, Mr. Rae. I may have given that impression. I confess to a little
madness when I begin talking Canada.
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