our ill-used husband has finished his speech
before you interrupt him? I was saying break out directly with a rash
desire to spend more money upon a whim-wham to wind up the sun."

"Ah, now you are joking," said Aunt Hannah. "Then you do not think he
is going to be ill again?"

"Not a bit."

It all came out in a day or two, and after listening patiently to the
whole scheme--

"Well," said the doctor, "try, only you are not to go beyond five pounds
for expenses."

"Then you believe in it, uncle," cried Vane, excitedly.

"I am not going to commit myself, boy," said the doctor. "Try, and if
you succeed you may ride us up and down the river as often as you like."

Vane went off at once to begin.

"Five pounds, my dear," said Aunt Hannah, shaking her head, "and you do
not believe in it. Will it not be money wasted."

"Not more so than five pounds spent in education," replied the doctor,
stoutly. "The boy has a turn for mechanics, so let him go on. He'll
fail, but he will have learned a great deal about ics, while he has been
amusing himself for months."

"About Hicks?" said Aunt Hannah, innocently, "is he some engineer?"

"Who said _Hicks_?" cried the doctor, "I said ics--statics, and dynamics
and hydraulics, and the rest of their nature's forces."

"Oh," said Aunt Hannah, "I understand," which can only be looked upon as
a very innocent fib.

Meanwhile Vane had hurried down to the mill, for five pounds does not go
very far in mechanism, and there would be none to spare for the purchase
of a boat.

"Hallo, squire," roared the miller, who saw him as he approached the
little bridge, "you're too late."

"What for--going out?"

"Going out? What, with all this water on hand. Nay, lad, mak' your hay
while the sun shines. Deal o' grinding to do a day like this."

"Then why did you say I was too late?" said Vane.

"For the eels running. They weer coming down fast enew last night. Got
the eel trap half full. Come and look."

He led the way down through a flap in the floor to where, in a
cellar-like place close to the big splashing mill wheel, there was a tub
half full of the slimy creatures, anything but a pleasant-looking sight,
and Vane said so.

"Reight, my lad," said the miller, "but you wait till a basketful goes
up to the Little Manor and your Martha has ornamented 'em with eggs and
crumbs and browned 'em and sent 'em up on a white napkin, with good
parsley. Won't be an unpleasant sight the