r engineering--once made a steam
engine out of an empty meat tin. It didn't work very well, and it blew
up and burst the kitchen window; but that's a detail. So I'm waiting,
like Mr. Micawber, for 'something to turn up' in the engineering line. I
take in the engineering paper, and answer all the advertisements; but
nothing comes of it. Quite comfortable? Shall I shake up the pillow,
sir? I know how to do it, for I've seen Nell do 'em for mamma."

"No; thanks, very much. I'm quite comfortable. If you really are
desirous of taking any trouble, you might get me a sheet of note paper
and an envelope."

"To say nothing of a pen, some ink, and blotting paper," said Dick,
rising leisurely.

He brought them and set them on the bed, and Mr. Drake Vernon wrote a
letter.

"I'm sending for some clothes," he explained. "May I trouble you to post
it? Any time will do."

"Post doesn't go out till five," said Dick. "And we've only one post in
and out a day. This is the last place Providence thought of, and I don't
think it would have mattered much if it had been forgotten altogether."

"It's pretty enough, too, what I saw of it," said Mr. Vernon.

"Oh, it's pretty enough," assented Dick casually; "but it's precious
dull."

"What do you find to do?" asked the sick man, with an attempt at
interest.

"Oh, I ride--when I can borrow a horse--and boat and fish--and fish and
boat."

At that moment a girl's voice, singing in a soft and subdued tone, rose
from below the window.

Mr. Drake Vernon listened for a moment or two, then he asked:

"Who is that?"

"That's Nell, caterwauling."

"Your sister has a good voice," remarked Mr. Vernon.

"Oh, yes; Nell sings very well," assented Dick, with a brother's
indifferent patronage.

"And what does your sister find to do?" asked Mr. Vernon.

"Oh, she does ditto to me," said Dick. "Fish, boat--boat, fish; but
since you've been here, of course----"

He stopped awkwardly.

"Yes, I understand. I must have been a terrible bore to you--to you
all," said Mr. Drake Vernon, gravely and regretfully. "I'm very sorry."

"No man can say more; and there's no need for you to say as much, sir,"
remarked Dick philosophically. "As I said, you have been a boon and a
blessing to the women--and I don't mind, now you're getting better and
can stand a little noise."

Mr. Vernon smiled.

"My dear fellow, you can make all the row you like," he said earnestly.
"I'm very much obliged to you for loo