I suppose it's something to do with my being fond of--"

"Riding hobbies," said the doctor.

"Oh, I don't want to ride hobbies, uncle," said Vane, in rather an
ill-used tone. "I only like to be doing things that seem as if they
would be useful."

"And quite right, too, my dear," said Aunt Hannah, "only I do wish you
wouldn't make quite such a mess as you do sometimes."

"Yes, it's quite right, mess or no mess," said the doctor pleasantly.
"I'm glad to see you busy over something or another, even if it does not
always answer. Better than wasting your time or getting into mischief."

"But they always would answer, uncle," said Vane, rubbing one ear in a
vexed fashion--"that is, if I could get them quite right."

"Ah, yes, if you could get them quite right. Well, what about the
greenhouse? You know I was telling the parson the other day about your
plans about the kitchen-boiler and hot-water."

Vane looked for a moment as if he had received too severe a check to
care to renew the subject on which he had been talking; but his uncle
looked so pleasant and tolerant of his plans that the boy fired up.

"Well, it was like this, uncle: you say it is a great nuisance for any
one to have to go out and see to the fire on wet, cold, dark nights."

"So it is, boy. Any one will grant that."

"Yes, uncle, and that's what I want to prevent."

"Well, how?"

"Stop a moment," said Vane. "I've been thinking about this a good deal
more since you said you must send for the bricklayer."

"Well, well," said the doctor, "let's hear."

"I expect you'll laugh at me," said Vane; "but I've been trying somehow
to get to the bottom of it all."

"Of course; that's the right way," said the doctor; and Aunt Hannah gave
an approving nod.

"Well," said Vane; "it seems to me that one fire ought to do all the
work."

"So it does, my boy," said the doctor; "but it's a devouring sort of
monster and eats up a great deal of coal."

"But I mean one fire ought to do for both the kitchen and the
greenhouse, too."

"What, would you have Martha's grate in among the flowers, and let her
roast and fry there? That wouldn't do."

"No, no, uncle. Let the greenhouse be heated with hot-water pipes."

"Well?"

"And connect them, as I said before, with the kitchen-boiler."

"As I told Syme," said the doctor.

"No, no, no," cried Aunt Hannah, very decisively. "I'm quite sure that
wouldn't do; and I'm certain that Martha would not approve