ffirmatives either. Frank shall have this splendid
chance; and I'll lay you any wager you like he makes the best of it."

"I am not rich enough to lay wagers, usually," replied Mr. Clare; "but
I think I have got a guinea about the house somewhere; and I'll lay you
that guinea Frank comes back on our hands like a bad shilling."

"Done!" said Mr. Vanstone. "No: stop a minute! I won't do the lad's
character the injustice of backing it at even money. I'll lay you five
to one Frank turns up trumps in this business! You ought to be ashamed
of yourself for talking of him as you do. What sort of hocus-pocus you
bring it about by, I don't pretend to know; but you always end in making
me take his part, as if I was his father instead of you. Ah yes! give
you time, and you'll defend yourself. I won't give you time; I won't
have any of your special pleading. Black's white according to you.
I don't care: it's black for all that. You may talk nineteen to the
dozen--I shall write to my friend and say Yes, in Frank's interests, by
to-day's post."

Such were the circumstances under which Mr. Francis Clare departed for
the north of England, at the age of seventeen, to start in life as a
civil engineer.

From time to time, Mr. Vanstone's friend communicated with him on the
subject of the new pupil. Frank was praised, as a quiet, gentleman-like,
interesting lad--but he was also reported to be rather slow at acquiring
the rudiments of engineering science. Other letters, later in date,
described him as a little too ready to despond about himself; as having
been sent away, on that account, to some new railway works, to see
if change of scene would rouse him; and as having benefited in every
respect by the experiment--except perhaps in regard to his professional
studies, which still advanced but slowly. Subsequent communications
announced his departure, under care of a trustworthy foreman, for some
public works in Belgium; touched on the general benefit he appeared to
derive from this new change; praised his excellent manners and address,
which were of great assistance in facilitating business communications
with the foreigners--and passed over in ominous silence the main
question of his actual progress in the acquirement of knowledge. These
reports, and many others which resembled them, were all conscientiously
presented by Frank's friend to the attention of Frank's father. On
each occasion, Mr. Clare exulted over Mr. Vanstone, and Mr. Vans