"My time will be out next--Oh, the work? Well, yes; it's not bad, and there's a jolly set in the yard. But how about you? I heard last night you'd got home. Been everywhere and come back wealthy? The boys used to say you was off pirating." "No such luck," answered Richard, with a smile. "I didn't prey on the high seas,--quite the contrary. The high sea captured my kit and four years' savings. I will tell you about it some day. If I have a limb to my name and a breath left to my body, it is no thanks to the Indian Ocean. That is all I have got, Will, and I am looking around for bread and butter,--literally bread and butter." "No? and the old gentleman so rich!" Durgin said this with sincere indignation, and was perhaps unconscious himself of experiencing that nameless, shadowy satisfaction which Rochefoucauld says we find in the adversity of our best friends. Certainly Richard looked very seedy in his suit of slop-shop clothes. "I was on my way to Mr. Slocum's to see if I could do anything with him," Richard continued. "To get a job, do you mean?" "Yes, to get work,--to learn _how_ to work; to master a trade, in short." "You can't be an apprentice, you know," said Durgin. "Why not?" "Slocum has two." "Suppose he should happen to want another? He might." "The Association wouldn't allow it." "What Association?" "The Marble Workers' Association, of course." _"They_ wouldn't allow it! How is that?" "This the way of it. Slocum is free to take on two apprentices every year, but no more. That prevents workmen increasing too fast, and so keeps up wages. The Marble Workers' Association is a very neat thing, I can tell you." "But doesn't Mr. Slocum own the yard? I thought he did." "Yes, he owns the yard." "If he wished to extend the business, couldn't he employ more hands?" "As many as he could get,--skilled workmen; but not apprentices." "And Mr. Slocum agrees to that?" inquired Richard. "He does." "And likes it?" "Not he,--he hates it; but he can't help himself." "Upon my soul, I don't see what prevents him taking on as many apprentices as he wants to." "Why, the Association, to be sure," returned Durgin, glancing at the town clock, which marked seven minutes past the hour. "But how could they stop him?" "In plenty of ways. Suppose Slocum has a lot of unfinished contracts on hand,--he always has fat contracts,--and the men was to knock off work. That would be kind of awkward, wouldn't it?" "For a day or two, yes. He could send out of town for hands," suggested Richard. "And they wouldn't come, if the Association said 'Stay where you are.' They are mostly in the ring. Some outsiders might come, though." "Then what?" "Why, then the boys would make it pretty hot for them in Stillwater. Don't you notice?" "I notice there is not much chance for me," said Richard, despondingly. "Isn't that so?"