Question

"We do many things, sir" Why was Nicola serious when he answered this?

Answer 1

Because he was hoping for a service to provide for the narrator and his fellow since he desperately need money for his sister who was diagnosed with tb

Answer 2

This statements shows that the two boys were not ashamed of doing menial jobs such as shoe polish or fruit-vending. When the narrator saw them working as shoe shine boys he was surprised as he had seen them selling wild strawberries the previous day. He asked them about it. Then Nicola, the elder brother spoke that they did many things. Nicola said that they also did a lot of other things for a living. The boys hoped that the narrator would ask for their services and in return would earn some good