form of
conversation when Distin was there--which was not regularly, for the
accident on the river served as an excuse for several long stays in
bed--but a free and unfettered form when he was not present. For Macey
soon freed Vane from any feeling of an irksome nature by insisting to
Gilmore how he had been to blame.

Gilmore looked very serious at first, but laughed directly after.

"I really thought it was an accident," he said; "and I felt the more
convinced that it was on hearing poor old hot-headed Distie accuse you,
Vane, because, of course, I knew you would not do such a thing; and I
thought Macey blamed himself to save you."

"Thought me a better sort of fellow than I am, then," said Macey.

"Much," replied Gilmore, quietly. "You couldn't see old Weathercock
trying to drown all his friends."

"I didn't," cried Macey, indignantly. "I only wanted to give Distie a
cooling down."

"And nicely you did it," cried Gilmore.

"There, don't talk any more about it," cried Vane, who was busy
sketching upon some exercise paper. "It's all over, and doesn't bear
thinking about."

"What's he doing?" cried Macey, reaching across the table, and making a
snatch at the paper, which Vane tried hurriedly to withdraw, but only
saved a corner, while Macey waved his portion in triumph.

"Hoo-rah!" he cried. "It's a plan for a new patent steamboat, and I
shall make one, and gain a fortune, while poor old Vane will be left out
in the cold."

"Let's look," said Gilmore.

"No, no. It's too bad," cried Vane, making a fresh dash at the paper.

"Shan't have it, sir! Sit down," cried Macey. "How dare you, sir!
Look, Gil! It is a boat to go by steam, with a whipper-whopper out at
the stern to send her along."

"I wish you wouldn't be so stupid, Aleck. Give me the paper."

"Shan't."

"I don't want to get up and make a struggle for it."

"I should think not, sir. Sit still. Oh, I say, Gil, look. Here it
all is. It's not steam. It's a fellow with long arms and queer elbows
turns a wheel."

"Get out!" cried Vane, laughing; "those are shafts and cranks."

"Of course they are. No one would think it, though, would they, Gil? I
say, isn't he a genius at drawing?"

"Look here, Aleck, if you don't be quiet with your chaff I'll ink your
nose."

"Wonderful, isn't he?" continued Macey. "I say, how many hundred miles
an hour a boat like that will go!"

"Oh, I say, do drop it," cried Vane, good-humouredly.

"I k