“Yes, sir.”
‚ÄúAnd‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
“My friend, Miss Wynn.”
The Senator glanced at Miss Wynn and she bowed demurely. Then he turned to Alwyn.
‚ÄúWell, Mr. ¬ÝAlwyn, Washington is a bad place to start in the world.‚Äù
Bles looked surprised and incredulous. He could conceive of no finer starting-place, but he said nothing.
‚ÄúIt is a grave,‚Äù continued the Senator, ‚Äúof ambitions and ideals. You would far better go back to Alabama‚Äù‚ÅÝ‚Äîpausing and looking at the young man keenly‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äúbut you won‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou won‚Äôt‚ÅÝ‚Äînot yet, at any rate.‚Äù And Bles shook his head slowly.
‚ÄúNo‚ÅÝ‚Äîwell, what can I do for you?‚Äù
‚ÄúI want work‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚Äôll do anything.‚Äù
‚ÄúNo, you‚Äôll do one thing‚ÅÝ‚Äîbe a clerk, and then if you have the right stuff in you you will throw up that job in a year and start again.‚Äù
“I’d like at least to try it, sir.”
“Well, I can’t help you much there; that’s in civil-service, and you must take the examination.”
“I have, sir.”
“So? Where, and what mark?”
“In the Treasury Department; I got a mark of ninety-three.”