"
"I gave it to him in trust for his two incredible daughters," said Grant
with a grimace. "But, hang it! if I don't believe the fellow has more
concern in it than I imagined."
"But isn't she perfect?" said Rice, with charming abstraction.
"Who?"
"Clementina, and so unlike her father."
"Discomposingly so," said Grant quietly. "One feels in calling her 'Miss
Harkutt' as if one were touching upon a manifest indiscretion. But here
comes John Milton. Well, my lad, what can I do for you?"
The boy, who had been regarding them from a distance with wistful and
curious eyes as they replaced their instruments for the journey, had
gradually approached them. After a moment's timid hesitation he said,
looking at Grant: "You don't know anybody in this kind o' business,"
pointing to the instruments, "who'd like a boy, about my size?"
"I'm afraid not, J. M.," said Grant, cheerfully, without suspending his
operation. "The fact is, you see, it's not exactly the kind of work for
a boy of your size."
John Milton was silent for a moment, shifting himself slowly from one
leg to another as he watched the surveyor. After a pause he said, "There
don't seem to be much show in this world for boys o' my size. There
don't seem to be much use for 'em any way." This not bitterly, but
philosophically, and even politely, as if to relieve Grant's rejection
of any incivility.
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