I don't know what experience you'd had
of road-making."
"None," Trent interjected.
"Then it's wonderful!"
Trent smiled upon the boy with such a smile as few people had ever
seen upon his lips.
"There's a bit of credit to you, Davenant," he said. "I'd never
have been able to figure out the levelling alone. Whether I go
down or not, this shall be a good step up on the ladder for you."
The boy laughed.
"I've enjoyed it more than anything else in my life," he said.
"Fancy the difference between this and life in a London office.
It's been magnificent! I never dreamed what life was like before."
Trent looked thoughtfully into the red embers. "You had the mail
to-day," the boy continued. How were things in London?"
"Not so bad," Trent answered. "Cathcart has been doing all the
harm he can, but it hasn't made a lot of difference. My cables have
been published and our letters will be in print by now, and the
photographs you took of the work. That was a splendid idea!"
"And the shares?"
"Down a bit - not much. Da Souza seems to be selling out carefully
a few at a time, and my brokers are buying most of them. Pound
shares are nineteen shillings to-day. They'll be between three and
four pounds, a week after I get back.
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