st talking about
Cameron, who is thinking of going to Canada."
"To Canada of all places!" exclaimed "Lily" in tones of horrified
surprise. "How truly dreadful! But why should Cameron of all beings
exile himself in those remote and barbarous regions?"
"And why should he not?" cried Miss Brodie. "What is there for a young
man of spirit in Mr. Cameron's position in this country?"
"Why, my dear Miss Brodie, how can you ask? Just think of the heaps of
things, of perfectly delicious things, Cameron can do,--the Highlands in
summer, Edinburgh, London, in the season, a run to the Continent! Just
think of the wild possibility of a life of unalloyed bliss!"
"Don't be silly!" said Miss Brodie. "We are talking seriously."
"Seriously! Why, my dear Miss Brodie, do you imagine--?"
"But what could he do for a life-work?" said Dunn. "A fellow must have
something to do."
"Oh, dear, I suppose so," said "Lily" with a sigh. "But surely he could
have some position in an office or something!"
"Exactly!" replied Miss Brodie. "How beautifully you put it! Now Mr.
Martin was just about to tell us of the things a man could do in Canada
when you interrupted."
"Awfully sorry, Martin. I apologise. Please go on. What do the natives
do in Canada?"
"Please don't pay any attention to him, Mr. Martin. I am extremely
interested. Now tell me, what are the openings for a young fellow in
Canada? You said the professions are all wide open."
It took a little persuasion to get Martin started again, so disgusted
was he with Laughton's references to his native country. "Yes, Miss
Brodie, the professions are all wide open, but of course men must enter
as they do here, but with a difference. Take law, for instance: Knew a
chap--went into an office at ten dollars a month--didn't know a thing
about it. In three months he was raised to twenty dollars, and within a
year to forty dollars. In three or four years he had passed his exams,
got a junior partnership worth easily two thousand dollars a year. They
wanted that chap, and wanted him badly. But take business: That chap
goes into a store and--"
"A store?" inquired "Lily."
"Yes, a shop you call it here; say a drygoods--"
"Drygoods? What extraordinary terms these Colonials use!"
"Oh, draper's shop," said Dunn impatiently. "Go on, Martin; don't mind
him."
"A draper's clerk!" echoed "Lily." "To sell tapes and things?"
"Yes," replied Martin stoutly; "or groceries."
"Do you by any c
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