p saying yes," said the doctor. "It
does look right, doesn't it, my dear?"

"Yes," said Aunt Hannah, with a sigh; "it does certainly look right."

"I would not go far till, as I thought, I had tested my plans in every
way."

"That was right," said the doctor. "Well, what's the matter--why hasn't
it succeeded?"

"Ah, why, indeed?" replied Deering. "Some law of nature, which, in
spite of incessant study, I cannot grasp, has been against me."

Vane was poring over the plans, with his forehead full of lines and his
mouth pursed up, and, after bringing sheet after sheet to the top, he
ended by laying the fullest drawing with all its colourings and
references out straight, and, lifting the lamp back upon it in the
centre of the table to give a better light; and while his aunt and untie
were right and left, Mr Deering was facing him, and he had his back to
the fire:

"But you should have made models, and tested it all thoroughly."

"I did, Lee, I did," cried Mr Deering, passionately. "I made model
after model, improving one upon the other, till I had reached, as I
thought, perfection. They worked admirably, and when I was, as I
thought, safe, and had obtained my details, I threw in the capital, for
which you were security, started my works, and began making on a large
scale. Orders came in, and I saw, as I told you, fortune in my grasp."

"Well, and what then?"

"Failure. That which worked so well on a small scale was useless on a
large."

Vane was the only one standing, and leaning his elbows on the great
drawing, his chin upon his hands, deeply interested in the pipes,
elbows, taps, furnace, and various arrangements.

"But that seems strange," said the doctor. "I should have thought you
were right."

"Exactly," said Deering, eagerly. "You would have thought I was right.
I felt sure that I was right. I would have staked my life upon it. If
I had had a doubt, Lee, believe me I would not have risked that money,
and dragged you down as I have."

"I believe you, Deering," said the doctor, more warmly than he had yet
spoken; "but, hang it, man, I wouldn't give up. Try again."

"I have tried again, till I feel that if I do more my brain will give
way--I shall go mad. No: nature is against me, and I have made a
terrible failure."

Aunt Hannah sighed.

"There is nothing for me but to try and recover my shattered health, get
my nerves right again, and then start at something else."

"Why not have an