“Iam.”
“Then might you join me later in the library? I have a couple of things of importance I’d like to discuss withyou.”
“And I with you,” Simonsaid.
* * *
John was goingthrough bills when Simon knocked andentered.
“Don’t you keep a fire in here?” Simon asked. “It’sfreezing.”
“Oh, sorry, the footman who keeps the fires tripped and fell this morning on his rounds and his work was interrupted. Toss on a bit of wood if you like, there should be enoughembers.”
Simon didso.
“Come, I’d very much like to go over some ideas I have for your future,” Johnstarted.
“Please, let me know,” Simon said as he plopped into a chair opposite John’sdesk.
“Let me start first by asking you if you’ve given any thought to your future here at Haverford? Is there anything that particularly appeals toyou?”
Simon didn’t look up right away, seeming to consider what he wanted to say. “I don’t have a lot of experience, John, in running sheep. I’m afraid my expertise and past experience lie in the areas of sleeping late, lounging, visiting ladies for tea, gossiping at the theater, and drinking. Do you have anything along thoselines?”
John laughed. “And you might add stealing from yourbrother.”
“And that too,” Simon saidsheepishly.
“There must have been something useful you tried your hand at. Then how have you supported yourself these past few years? What you stole from me could not have lasted thatlong.”
“No, not long. I actually found some investors and ran a small import-export business. It wasn’t great, but I managed until it went bust and I ended up in that hovel you found mein.”
“Hmm. You know Susan and I are opening a school for the children of thevillage?”
“You’ve mentionedthat.”
“And I was thinking you might oversee the school’s conversion from a house to aschool.”
“Yes, I could dothat.”
“Susan is a wonderful teacher and that is her main focus. What would you also say to running theschool?”
“Manageit?”
“You’d be the Headmaster. Run all the administration. No sheepinvolved.”
“Hmm. Soundsinteresting.”
“We’ve been discussing expanding the school beyond the village children and opening it up to the larger community as a day or boarding school. There’d be a lot of management involved. Is that something that might interestyou?”
“Very well might. Would I need to livethere?”
“Not at all. You’d live here. And if we were to eventually become a boarding school, we’d hire someone to oversee the children atnight.”
“And I’d bepaid?”
“Of course. I promised you a living and this would be a niceone.”
“I’d like to speak to Susan about this. I want to hear what her ideas are for theschool.”