and dirty, leaving the water fairly clear, but with a thick sediment at
the bottom, while the dripping face of the glass, instead of being
brilliant polished glass, was seen to be coated over with a drabby-white
or greyish film.

"Double up that piece of blotting-paper, and place it in the window,
Tom," said Uncle Richard; and while this was being done, the darkened
glass was critically examined by the Vicar.

"I'm afraid you won't see many stars in that, friend Brandon," he said.

"It does not look like it," replied Uncle Richard. "But let's get it
dry in this current of air, and see what it is like then. Besides,
there is something else to follow. That is only the rough surface of
metallic silver. It has to be burnished before it is fit for use.
That's right, Tom. There!"

The glass had been placed in the sunny window opening, and this being
done, Uncle Richard washed his discoloured hands at the sink.

"Now," he said, "dinner must be nearly ready. Stop and have a bit with
us, Maxted, and see what the experiment says afterwards. It will be dry
enough to polish by then."

"Oh, thank you very much, but no, really I ought to--er--I did not mean
to stay."

"Never mind, stop," cried Uncle Richard warmly.

"Yes, do stay, Mr Maxted," cried Tom.

"It's very good of you, but I think I ought to--"

"Stop," said Uncle Richard.

"Really, I should like to see the end of the experiment."

"And hear the end of the lecture directly after dinner," said Uncle
Richard. "Tom, run in and tell Mrs Fidler to put another chair to the
table. Mr Maxted will stay. Now let's have a walk down the garden
till the dinner-bell rings."

CHAPTER THIRTY.

"Now to prove the success of the magical trick," said the Vicar, as they
all rose from the table, and walked across to the old mill. "Really,
Brandon, honestly I never felt so much interest in chemistry before, and
I feel quite disposed to take it up where one left off at college. But
oh, dear, how little time one has!"

"True," said Uncle Richard, "the days always seem too short to a busy
man. Now, Tom, let's look and see whether we have succeeded or failed."

"Succeeded," cried Tom excitedly, when the heavy fragment of the
speculum was lifted out of the hot sunshine perfectly dry, and laid flat
upon the bench. "Look, Mr Maxted, you can see that it is silvered all
over."

"Yes; a dull, dingy coating of silver," said the Vicar, who had put on
his glasses and was