“Well, boys, what do you want?”
“One of those half-crown induction-coils, please, sir.”
He got one out for them, and soon showed Walter how to use it. Walter was very fond of science, and all his spare pocket-money was spent with Mr. Cottenham, who not only encouraged the boy, but helped him, and gave him quite as much as he bought.
“Well, Alfred, do you want one too?” he inquired, seeing the half-crown in the boy’s hand.
“No, thank you, sir.”
“What are you going to do with your money? Put it in the savings-bank, eh?”
“No, sir; I am going to send it home to mother.”
“That’s right, Alfred.”
“Do you want a pill?” said Poll, who had been watching the boys very intently without speaking.
The coil having been bought, the boys were just going away, when Mr. Cottenham invited them all to come the following evening to tea, promising to show them some experiments in chemistry and electricity.