文段中一句英语的翻译，有提供上下文。

The family put a cousin in his place.He never took the pains to know what this business is all about.He'dput in a good long day,all tight,but doing what?Popping in here,popping in there,all over the place,all the time.Just sort of coveting ground.He thought it was more important for him to see that a shipping clerk turned out an electric light or that a stenographer picked up paper clip than it was for him to study a big sales campaign.

就是黑体的那句话不明白什么意思？请知道的详细说下。

我觉得 ground 应该是 around 吧？如果不是，那可以理解因为他一直到处串，（后面也提到）他垂涎的是表面，即ground，而不是去学习这些东西背后的销售业务的哲学。

有一个词是不是打错了，covering吧!

翻译：就是在各种各样的路面。