one for himself, even
so far as they knew, had excited a strong desire for improvement among
them. They, however, were doubtful as to others, and agreed that it
would not do to propose it in a straightforward manner, but that a good
deal of careful management would be necessary.

Jack, it was arranged, should open the subject after leading up to it
carefully. Harry should be the first to consent, Bill Cummings was to
give in his adhesion when he saw signs of wavering among the others, and
Fred Wood to delay his until a moment when his coming forward would be
useful.

The following Saturday, when many of them were always together, should
be the occasion, and Fred Wood was to lead up to the matter by asking
Jack some questions as to the relative bigness of the earth and the
sun.

Saturday came, the lads gathered in a field which belonged to the
Vaughan, and upon which a great tip of rubbish and shale was gradually
encroaching. Here choosing sides they played at rounders for a couple of
hours, and then flung themselves down on the grass. Some of them lighted
pipes, and all enjoyed the quiet of the fine autumn evening.

Presently Fred Wood artfully fired off the questions he had prepared,
which Jack answered.

"What a sight o' things thou know'st, Jack!" Bill Cummings said.

"I don't know much yet, Bill, but I hopes to know a goodish deal some
day."

"And thou really lik'st reading, Jack? I hate it," John Jordan said.

"I didn't like it ower much at first," Jack answered, "but as I got on I
liked it more and more. I wish you chaps had the chances I had. It isn't
every one who would take the pains wi' a fellow as Merton took wi' me."

"What ud be t' good o't?" John Jordan asked. "I doan't see no good in
knowing that t' sun be a hundred thousand times as big as t' world."

"There's use in a great deal o' what one gets to know, though," Jack
said; "not so much now as some day, maybe. A chap as has some sort o'
edication has chances over another o' being chosen as a viewer or an
oversman."

"Oh! that's what thou be'est looking forward to, Jack, eh? Well there's
summat in that, and I shouldna' wonder if we see thee that some day; but
we can't all be oversmen."

"Not in the Vaughan," Jack said; "but there's plenty o' other pits, and
a chap as has got his head screwed on straight, and can write well and
figure a bit, and have read up his work, may always look forward to
getting a step up wherever he goes. Besides, l