"Don't reprove him," said Deering. "I deserve it, and I invited the
taunt by my manner toward your nephew."

"Dinner's ready," said Aunt Hannah, hastily.

"Or supper," said the doctor, and ten minutes later they were all seated
at the meal, talking quietly about Scarboro', its great cliffs and the
sea, Mr Deering showing a considerable knowledge of the place. No
allusion whatever was made to the cause of their guest's visit till they
had adjourned to the drawing-room, Mr Deering having stopped in the
hall to take up a square tin box, and another which looked like a case
made to contain rolled up plans.

The doctor frowned, and seeing that some business matters were imminent,
Aunt Hannah rose to leave the room, and Vane followed her example.

"No, no, my dear Mrs Lee," said Deering, "don't leave us, and there is
nothing to be said that the lad ought not to hear. It will be a lesson
to him, as he is of a sanguine inventive temperament like myself, not to
be too eager to place faith in his inventions."

"Look here, Deering," said the doctor, after clearing his voice, "this
has been a terrible misfortune for us, and, I believe, for you too."

"Indeed it has," said Deering, bitterly. "I feel ten years older, and
in addition to my great hopes being blasted, I know that in your eyes,
and those of your wife, I must seem to have been a thoughtless,
designing scoundrel, dishonest to a degree."

"No, no, Mr Deering," said Aunt Hannah, warmly, "nobody ever thought
that of you."

"Right," said the doctor, smiling.

"I have wept bitterly over it, and grieved that you should ever have
come down here to disturb my poor husband in his peaceful life, where he
was resting after a long laborious career. It seemed so cruel--such a
terrible stroke of fate."

"Yes, madam, terrible and cruel," said Deering, sadly and humbly.

"There now, say no more about it," said the doctor. "It is of no use to
cry over spilt milk."

"No," replied Deering, "but I do reserve to myself the right to make
some explanations to you both, whom I have injured so in your worldly
prospects."

"Better let it go, Deering. There, man, we forgive you, and the worst
we think of you is that you were too sanguine and rash."

"Don't say that," cried Deering, "not till you have heard me out and
seen what I want to show you; but God bless you for what you have said.
Lee, you and I were boys at school together; we fought for and helped
each other, and