s.

"It's money, my dear, money," she said, making an effort to be calm. "I
did hope that we were going to end our days here in peace, where, after
his long, anxious toil in London, everything seems to suit your uncle
so, and he is so happy with his botany and fruit and flowers; but Heaven
knows what is best, and we shall have to go into quite a small cottage
now."

"But I thought uncle was ever so rich, aunt," cried Vane. "Oh, if I'd
known I wouldn't have asked him for money as I have for my schemes."

"Oh, my dear, it isn't that," cried Aunt Hannah. "I was always afraid
of it, but I did not like to oppose your uncle."

"It? What was it?" cried Vane.

"Perhaps I ought not to tell you, dear, but I don't know. You must know
some time. It was that Mr Deering. Your uncle has known him ever
since they were boys at school together; and then Mr Deering, who is a
great inventor, came down and told your uncle that he had at last found
the means of making his fortune over a mechanical discovery, if some one
would be security for him. Your uncle did not like to refuse."

"Oh, dear!" muttered Vane.

"You see it was not to supply him with money then, only to be security,
so that other people would advance him money and enable him to start his
works and pay for his patents."

"Yes, aunt, I understand," cried Vane. "And now--"

"His invention has turned out to be a complete failure, and your poor
uncle will have to pay off Mr Deering's liabilities. When that is
done, I am afraid we shall be very badly off, my dear."

"That you shan't, auntie," cried Vane, quickly; "I'll work for you both,
and I'll make a fortune somehow. I don't see why I shouldn't invent."

"No, no, don't, boy, for goodness' sake," said the doctor, who had heard
part of the conversation as he returned. "Let's have good hard work, my
lad. Let someone else do the inventing."

"All right, uncle," said Vane, firmly; "I'll give up all my wild ideas
now about contriving things, and set to work."

"That's right, boy," said the doctor. "I'm rather sick of hearing
inventions named."

"Don't say that, dear," said Aunt Hannah, quietly and firmly; "and I
should not like all Vane's aspirations to be damped because Mr Deering
has failed. Some inventions succeed: the mistake seems to me to be when
people take it for granted that everything must be a success."

"Hear! hear!" cried the doctor, thumping the table. "Here hi! You
Vane, why don't you c