p these sums, boys,' said he, 'and tell me whether I am right.'

'Ben, do you do it,' said Hal, a little embarrassed; 'I am not quick at
figures.'

Ben _was_, and he went over his uncle's calculation very expeditiously.

'It is right, is it?' said Mr. Gresham.

'Yes, sir, quite right.'

'Then, by this calculation I find I could, for less than half the money
your uniforms would cost, purchase for each of you boys a warm
greatcoat, which you will want, I have a notion, this winter upon the
downs.'

'Oh, sir,' said Hal with an alarmed look, 'but it is not winter _yet_;
it is not cold weather _yet_. We shan't want greatcoats _yet_.'

'Don't you remember how cold we were, Hal, the day before yesterday, in
that sharp wind, when we were flying our kite upon the downs? and winter
will come, though it is not come yet. I am sure I should like to have a
good warm greatcoat very much.'

Mr. Gresham took six guineas out of his purse; and he placed three of
them before Hal and three before Ben.

'Young gentlemen,' said he, 'I believe your uniforms would come to about
three guineas apiece. Now I will lay out this money for you just as you
please. Hal, what say you?'

'Why, sir,' said Hal, 'a greatcoat is a good thing, to be sure; and
then, after the greatcoat, as you said it would only cost half as much
as the uniform, there would be some money to spare, would not there?'

'Yes, my dear, about five-and-twenty shillings.'

'Five-and-twenty shillings? I could buy and do a great many things, to
be sure, with five-and-twenty shillings; but then, _the thing is_, I
must go without the uniform if I have the greatcoat.'

'Certainly,' said his uncle.

'Ah!' said Hal, sighing, as he looked at the epaulette, 'uncle, if you
would not be displeased if I choose the uniform----'

'I shall not be displeased at your choosing whatever you like best,'
said Mr. Gresham.

'Well, then, thank you, sir,' said Hal, 'I think I had better have the
uniform, because, if I have not the uniform now directly, it will be of
no use to me, as the archery meeting is the week after next, you know;
and as to the greatcoat, perhaps between this time and the very cold
weather, which perhaps won't be till Christmas, father will buy a
greatcoat for me; and I'll ask mother to give me some pocket-money to
give away, and she will, perhaps.'

To all this conclusive, conditional reasoning, which depended upon the
word _perhaps_, three times repeated, Mr. Gresh