heer, sir, when our Queen of Sheba speaks such
words of wisdom. Your aspirations shall not be stopped, boy. There, no
more words about the trouble. It's only the loss of money, and it has
done me good. I was growing idle and dyspeptic."

"You were not, dear," said Aunt Hannah, decidedly.

"Oh, yes, I was, my dear, and this has roused me up. There, I don't
care a bit for the loss, since you two take it so bravely. And, perhaps
after all, in spite of all the lawyers say, matters may not turn out
quite so badly. Deering says he shall come down, and I like that: it's
honourable and straightforward of him."

"I wish he would not come," said Aunt Hannah, "I wish we had never seen
his face."

"No, no! tut, tut," said the doctor.

"I'm sure I shall not be able to speak civilly to him," cried Aunt
Hannah.

"You will, dear, and you will make him as welcome as ever. His
misfortune is as great as ours--greater, because he has the additional
care of feeling that he has pretty well ruined us and poor Vane here."

"Oh, it hasn't ruined me, uncle," cried Vane. "I don't so much mind
missing college."

"But, suppose I had some money to leave you, my boy, and it is all
gone."

"Oh," cried Vane, merrily, "I'm glad of that. Mr Syme said one day
that he always pitied a young man who had expectations from his elders,
for, no matter how true-hearted the heir might be, it was always a
painful position for him to occupy, that of waiting for prosperity till
other people died. It was something like that, uncle, but I haven't
given it quite in his words."

"Humph! Syme is a goose," said the doctor, testily. "I'm sure you
never wanted me dead, so as to get my money, Vane."

"Why, of course not, uncle. I never thought about money except when I
wanted to pay old Wrench or Dance for something he made for me."

"There, I move that this meeting be adjourned," cried the doctor. "One
moment, though, before it is carried unanimously. How will Aunt behave
to poor Deering, when he comes down."

"Same as she behaves to every one, uncle," cried Vane, laughing.

"There, old lady," said the doctor, "and as for the money, bah! let it
take wings and fly away, and--"

The doctor's further speech was checked by Aunt Hannah throwing her arms
about his neck and burying her face in his breast, while Vane made a
rush out into the garden and then ran rapidly down the avenue.

"If I'd stopped a minute longer, I should have begun blubberi