.

'That does not seem worth while,' said Mary.

'No,' he said, 'but one's own immediate look-out may not be flattering,
whatever the next turn may bring;' and he took up the newspaper, and
began to turn it over. ''As butler--as single-handed man--as clerk and
accountant.' There, those are the lucky men, with downright work, and
some one to work for. Or, just listen to this!' and he plunged into a
story of some heroic conduct during a shipwreck. While he was reading
it aloud, with kindling eyes and enthusiastic interest, his father
opened the door. 'Louis,' he said, 'if you are doing nothing, I should
be obliged if you would make two copies of this letter.'

Louis glanced at the end of what he was reading, laid the paper down,
and opened a blotting-book.

'You had better come into the study, or you will not write correctly.'

'I can write, whatever goes on.'

'I particularly wish this to be legible and accurate. You have begun
too low down.'

Louis took another sheet.

'That pen is not fit to write with.'

'The pens are delusions,' said Louis, trying them round, in an easy,
idle way: 'I never could mend a quill! How is this steel one? Refuses
to recognise the purpose of his existence. Aunt Catherine, do you
still forbid steel pens in your school? If so, it must be the solitary
instance. How geese must cackle blessings on the inventor! He should
have a testimonial--a silver inkstand representing the goose that laid
the golden eggs,--and all writing-masters should subscribe. Ha! where
did this pen come from? Mary, were you the bounteous mender! A
thousand thanks.'

If Louis fretted his father by loitering and nonsense, his father was
no less trying by standing over him with advice and criticisms which
would have driven most youths beyond patience, but which he bore with
constant good-humour, till his father returned to the study, when he
exclaimed, 'Now, Mary, if you like to finish the wreck, it will not
interrupt me. This is mere machine-work.'

'Thank you,' said Mary; 'I should like it better afterwards. Do you
think I might do one copy for you? Or would it not suit Lord
Ormersfield?'

Louis made polite demurs, but she overruled them and began.

He stretched himself, took up his Times, and skimmed the remaining
incidents of the shipwreck, till he was shamed by seeing Mary half-way
down the first page, when he resumed his pen, overtook her, and then
relapsed into talk, till Mrs. Frost fai