here was a dead silence in the room, which was so still that the
sputtering noise made by the big lamp and the tinkle of a few cinders
that fell from the fire sounded painfully loud. They looked at each
other, but no one spoke, till Uncle Dick had fidgeted about in his chair
for some time, and then, giving his big beard a twitch, he bent forward.

I heard my other uncles sigh as if they were relieved, and they sat back
farther in their seats listening for what Uncle Dick, who was the
eldest, might wish to say.

"Look here," he cried at last.

Everybody did look there, but saw nothing but Uncle Dick, who kept
tugging at one lock of his beard, as if that was the string that would
let loose a whole shower-bath of words.

"Well!" he said, and there was another pause.

"Here," he cried, as if seized by a sudden fit of inspiration, "let's
hear what Cob has to say."

"Bravo! Hear, hear, hear!" cried my two uncles in chorus, and Uncle
Dick smiled and nodded and looked as if he felt highly satisfied with
himself; while I, with a face that seemed to be all on fire, jumped up
excitedly and cried:

"Let's all go and begin again."

"That's it--that settles it," cried Uncle Bob.

"Yes, yes," said Uncle Dick and Uncle Jack. "He's quite right. We'll
go."

Then all three beat upon the table with book and pencil and compasses,
and cried, "Hear, hear, hear!" while I shrank back into my chair, and
felt half ashamed of myself as I glanced at my father and wondered
whether he was angry on account of what I had proposed.

"That is settled then," he said quietly. "Jacob has been your
spokesman; and now let me add my opinion that you have taken the right
course. What I propose is this, that one of us stays and carries on the
business here till the others have got the Arrowfield affair in full
swing. Who will stay?"

There was no answer.

"Shall I?" said my father.

"Yes, if you will," they chorused.

"Very good," said my father. "I am glad to do so, for that will give me
plenty of time to make arrangements for Jacob here."

"But he must go with us," said Uncle Dick.

"Yes, of course," said Uncle Jack.

"Couldn't go without him."

"But his education as an engineer?"

"Now, look here, Alick," said Uncle Dick, "don't you think he'll learn
as much with us down at the new works as in any London place?"

My father sat silent and thoughtful, while I watched the play of his
countenance and trembled as I saw how he wa