llar and cuffs.

"Why did uncle say that I was like Mr Deering, aunt?" whispered Vane.
"I'm not a bit. He's dark and I'm fair."

"He meant like him in his ways, my dear: always dreaming about new
inventions, and making fortunes out of nothing. I do hope your uncle
will not listen to any of his wild ideas."

This description of the visitor excited Vane's curiosity. One who
approved of his plans respecting the heating of the greenhouse was
worthy of respect, and Vane was in no way dissatisfied to hear that Mr
Deering was quite ready to accept the doctor's hospitality for a day or
two.

That afternoon, as Aunt Hannah did not show the least disposition to
leave the doctor and his guest alone, the latter rose and looked at
Vane.

"I should like a walk," he said. "Suppose you take me round the garden,
squire."

Vane followed him out eagerly; and as soon as they were in the garden,
the visitor said quickly:--

"Got a workshop?"

Vane flushed a little.

"Only a bit of a shed," he said. "It was meant to be a cow-house, but
uncle lets me have it to amuse myself in."

"Show it to me," said the visitor.

"Wouldn't you rather come round the grounds to have a look at uncle's
fruit?" said Vane hurriedly.

"No. Why do you want to keep me out of your den?"

"Well, it's so untidy."

"Workshops generally are. Some other reason."

"I have such a lot of failures," said Vane hurriedly.

"Blunders and mistakes, I suppose, in things you have tried to make?"

"Yes."

"Show me."

Vane would far rather have led their visitor in another direction, but
there was a masterful decided way about him that was not to be denied,
and the lad led him into the large shed which had been floored with
boards and lined, so as to turn it into quite a respectable workshop, in
which were, beside a great heavy deal table in the centre, a carpenter's
bench, and a turning lathe, while nails were knocked in everywhere,
shelves ran from end to end, and the place presented to the eye about as
strange a confusion of odds and ends as could have been seen out of a
museum.

Vane looked at the visitor as he threw open the door, expecting to hear
a derisive burst of laughter, but he stepped in quietly enough, and
began to take up and handle the various objects which took his
attention, making remarks the while.

"You should not leave your tools lying about like this: the edges get
dulled, and sometimes they grow rusty. Haven't you a tool-c