en fit for my work by this time, and,
probably, content with it. A university is not needed there."

"You must not be angry with me if I say you are talking foolishly," said
Mrs Inglis, "and, indeed, ungratefully, when you say that. Do you mean
that your education will be a disadvantage to you?"

"No; except by making business distasteful to me. I mean, it has given
me other interests and other tastes--something beyond the desire to make
money."

"Doubtless, that was your father's intention--to make you an intelligent
man as well as a banker--not a mere money-maker. And his wish ought to
decide you to give the business of his office a fair trial, since you do
not seem to have a preference for any other."

"I have a very decided preference for a trip across the country. Don't
look grave, Aunt Mary. These are my holidays. By and by will be time
to settle down to work."

"I thought you were no longer a schoolboy?"

"No, I am not; but I should like to go--to the Red River, perhaps. It
would be a fine trip for Davie in his vacation, too, and its cost would
be little--comparatively."

"Davie does not expect a vacation--or only a week or two."

"Davie is quite a steady old gentleman," said Philip.

Mrs Inglis smiled.

"I don't suppose you mean that quite as a compliment to my boy. I am
very glad it is true, nevertheless."

"You don't suppose I would venture to say anything not complimentary to
your boy to you, do you? Or that I would wish to say it to any one?
But he _does_ take life so seriously. He is so dreadfully in earnest.
One would think that Davie was years and years older than I am."

"Yes, in some things."

"But, Aunt Mary, such precocious sobriety and wisdom are unnatural and
unwholesome. Davie is too wise and grave for his years."

"He is not too wise to do very foolish things sometimes; and he is the
merriest among the children at home, though we don't hear his voice
quite so often as Jem's. And you must remember that Davie's experience
has been very different from yours."

"Yes, Aunt Mary, I know. Frank has told me how happy you all were, and
how Davie was always so much with his father. It must have been very
terrible for you all."

"And, Philip, Davie has tried to take his father's place among us.
Davie is our bread-winner, in a measure. We have had many cares and
anxieties together. No wonder that he seems to you to be grave and
older than his years."

"Aunt Mary, what an