But what about the half-taught women who don't know how to work?
What do you do with them ?" "They're not numerous.

Then one can always learn, and I imagine every woman can cook and manage a house." "You're taking much for granted, though yours seems to be the conventional view.

But how did you learn railroad building, for example ?" "By unloading ties and shoveling ballast on the track.

The trouble was that I began too late." "What did you do before that ?" "Sometimes I worked in sawmills and sometimes packed--that means carrying things--for survey parties, and went prospecting." "In the wilds?
It sounds interesting.

Won't you tell us about it ?" Festing complied; awkwardly at first, and then with growing confidence.
He did not want to make much of his exploits, but there was a charm in talking about things he knew to two clever and attractive girls, and they helped him with tactful questions.