“Oh yes, I do: at egging, climbing, fishing, and swimming. I’ll have no more of it; he shall go over to some big school in Germany, where they’ll bring him to his senses.”
“I do everything Mr Deane sets me to do, father,” said the boy; “and I do try hard.”
“Yes—to break your neck or drown yourself. Look here, sir, when are you going to pay me my bill?”
“Your bill, father? I don’t know what you mean.”
“Surgical attendance in mending your broken leg. That’s been owing two years.”
“When my ship comes in, father,” cried Vince, laughing.
“But, I say, don’t send me to a big school, father. I like being here so much.”
“Yes: to waste the golden moments of boyhood, sir.”
“But I don’t, father,” cried Vince. “I really do work hard at everything Mr Deane sets me, and get it all done before I go out. He never finds fault.”
“Bah! You’re getting too big to think of going out to play with Mike Ladelle.”