over that. I've
learned my lesson. You don't think I feel especially drawn towards that
sort of thing, do you?"

"I hope not," said Paul with a feeling of relief. There was a pause.
Then Paul said as he picked up Esther's letter, "You will write mother.
I'll leave it to you to tell her what you think you ought. But she is
building great castles on your estate, my boy. Don't disappoint her,
will you?"

"No, father, I won't," Walter replied in a low voice. There was another
pause and then Paul said cheerfully, "I must go back on the night train.
It's only fair to you to say that President Davis paid you a fine
compliment speaking of your rank in the engineering department. We all
expect great things of you in that line." Walter coloured with pleasure
at the statement.

"They've got a great equipment here, father. That was the first reason I
felt awfully bad to leave. I don't believe there is another school like
Burrton for electrical engineering."

Paul rose to go and Walter went with him down to the station. Paul's
parting word was affectionate and hopeful.

"Do your best, boy, and don't forget to pray."

Walter remembered that brief but serious appeal a long time. His father
had not often talked religious matters with him. At the same time Walter
had grown up with a strong impression of his father's own religious
character and without much having been said he had always had the
deepest respect for his father's splendid Christian character. That same
evening he wrote home to his mother. Under the influence of his father's
treatment of his conduct he made a full and frank confession of his
actions but at one point he could not help saying, "I told father I did
not feel as if the bet was such an awful thing on account of it being a
regular custom here at Burrton. You know I've written before about the
Standard being different. But father was all upset by it. Mother, I
don't think I have any temptation to gamble as a regular thing, and I
have promised never to bet again, but you know I like nice things and I
wanted the money so I wouldn't have to bone quite so hard. Father is
good to me to let me stay on. I don't know what I would have done if he
had taken me out. There is no other school quite up to this for
equipment and I'm not fit for anything else. I'm working on a new lamp
for city street lighting. We are allowed so many hours a week for
original study and research. I can't describe my work and you would not