“Humph!” ejaculated the doctor. “Want to run away from us then, now we are poor.”
“Uncle!” shouted Vane, fiercely indignant; but he saw the grim smile on the old man’s countenance, and went close up and took his arm. “You didn’t mean that,” he continued. “It’s because I want to get to work so as to help you and aunt now, instead of being a burden to you.”
“Don’t want to go, then?”
Vane shook his head sadly. “No, uncle, I’ve been so happy at home, but of course should have to go some day.”
“Ah, well, there is no immediate hurry. We’ll wait. I don’t think that Mr Deering is quite the man I should like to see you with in your first start in life. I’m afraid, Vane, boy, that he is reckless. Yesterday, I thought him unprincipled too, but he is behaving like a man of honour in coming down to see me, and show me how he went wrong. It’s a sad business, but I daresay we shall get used to it after a time.”
The journey back was made so that they reached home after dark, Vane laughingly saying that it would screen him a little longer, and almost the first person they encountered was Mr Deering himself.
“Hah, Doctor,” he said quietly, “I’m glad you’re come back. I only reached here by the last train.”
The doctor hesitated a moment, and then shook hands.
“Well, youngster,” said the visitor, “I suppose you have not set the Thames on fire yet.”
“No,” said Vane, indignantly, for their visitor’s manner nettled him, “and when I try to, I shall set to work without help.”