human
I'm mighty glad you've come, Seth. Bill an' me was jest figgerin' that they'd fixed it up to have you sleep there nights.
gpt
There wasn't anythin' said about that, and I reckon they don't want boys 'round,
human
Why, what's the matter, old man? Ain't gettin' discouraged so soon, are you?
gpt
I reckon it'll be all right after a spell, an' I wouldn't want any of Ninety-four's men to know that I wasn't jest as chipper as a sparrer; but things are different up there from what they are down here. They jest set you to work an' let you keep hummin' without sayin' a word. I don't believe a single one of 'em has spoke to me since Mr. Davis went away.
human
What you been doin'?
gpt
Cleanin' windows; an' I tell you they're so big that one of 'em makes considerable work. I hung on to it till I'd finished all on that floor, even though they told me to go home at six o'clock.
human
What are you goin' to do to-morrow?
gpt
I don't know. Anythin' that comes up, I s'pose.
human
Didn't they give you any lessons in the school?
gpt
I haven't even seen it yet. There might have been a hundred men 'round there practisin' for all I'd know, 'cause I was in the front of the buildin'.
human
Why, I thought you'd go right to work learnin' to be a fireman,
gpt
Mr. Davis never allowed anythin' like that. He said after a spell, when I'd showed 'em I could 'tend to business, I might get a show; but you see, it ain't anyways certain that they'll do what Ninety-four's men have been countin' on. I've got to take the chances, you know, and work my way in.