"I suppose I should sort it out sometime in the near future," he admits. "But I don't think it has to be now. I just-- I haven't the slightest idea what to make of myself here. All I wanted was to get away from home before, that was enough. Going to university in London would've given me that. And now Darrow's done that work instead but there isn't exactly a wide world here, full of possibility. Is there?"

He frowns a bit and looks down at the counter, at his hands. He's a farm boy far from home, and he isn't exactly sure where his skills, what few he has, will make any sense or be of us.

"Suppose I can always resort to digging ditches."