instead of the terrible 'pa.' Little Owen
thought this a preparation for the itinerant white-mouse exhibition,
which he was permitted to believe was only delayed till the daily
gymnastic exertions should have resulted in the use of crutches, and till
he could safely pronounce the names of the future mice, Hannibal and
Annabella, and other traps for aspirates! Nay, his father was going to
set up an exhibition of his own, as it appeared; for after a vast amount
of meditation, he begged for pen and paper, ruler and compasses, drew,
wrote, and figured, and finally took to cardboard and penknife, begging
the aid of Miss Charlecote, greatly to the distress of the little boy,
who had thought the whole affair private and confidential, and looked
forward to a secret departure early in the morning, with crutches, mice,
and model.

Miss Charlecote did her best with needle and gum, but could not
understand; and between her fears of trying Owen's patience and letting
him overstrain his brain, was so much distressed that he gave it up; but
it preyed on him, till one day Phoebe came in, and he could not help
explaining it to her, and claiming her assistance, as he saw her ready
comprehension. For two afternoons she came and worked under him; and
between card, wire, gum, and watch-spring, such a beauteous little model
locomotive engine and train were produced, that Owen archly assured her
that 'she would be a fortune in herself to a rising engineer,' and Honor
was struck by the sudden crimson evoked by the compliment.

Little Owen thought their fortune made, and was rather disappointed at
the delay, when his father, confirming his idea that their livelihood
might depend on the model, insisted that it should be carried out in
brass and wood, and caused his chair to be frequently wheeled down to the
blacksmith's and carpenter's, whose comprehension so much more resembled
their lady's than that of Miss Fulmort, and who made such intolerable
blunders, that he bestowed on them more vituperation than, in their
opinion, 'he had any call to;' and looked in a passion of despair at the
numb, nerveless fingers, once his dexterous servants.

Still his spirits were immensely improved, since resolution, hope, and
independence had returned. His mental faculties had recovered their
force, and with the removal of the disease, the healthfulness and
elasticity of his twenty-five years were beginning to compensate for the
lost powers of his limbs.