“Not a bit.”
It all came out in a day or two, and after listening patiently to the whole scheme—
“Well,” said the doctor, “try, only you are not to go beyond five pounds for expenses.”
“Then you believe in it, uncle,” cried Vane, excitedly.
“I am not going to commit myself, boy,” said the doctor. “Try, and if you succeed you may ride us up and down the river as often as you like.”
Vane went off at once to begin.
“Five pounds, my dear,” said Aunt Hannah, shaking her head, “and you do not believe in it. Will it not be money wasted.”
“Not more so than five pounds spent in education,” replied the doctor, stoutly. “The boy has a turn for mechanics, so let him go on. He’ll fail, but he will have learned a great deal about ics, while he has been amusing himself for months.”
“About Hicks?” said Aunt Hannah, innocently, “is he some engineer?”
“Who said Hicks?” cried the doctor, “I said ics—statics, and dynamics and hydraulics, and the rest of their nature’s forces.”