“I think it sense,” said the doctor, firmly. “Vane shall go to a large civil engineer’s firm as pupil, and if, some years hence, matters seem to fit, make your proposition again about a partnership, and then we shall see.”
Deering had to be content with this arrangement, and within the year Vane left Greythorpe, reluctantly enough, to enter upon his new career with an eminent firm in Great George Street, Westminster.
But he soon found plenty of change, and three years later, long after the rector’s other pupils had taken flight, Vane found himself busy surveying in Brazil, and assisting in the opening out of that vast country.
It was hard but delightful work, full at times of excitement and adventure, till upon one unlucky day he was stricken down by malarious fever on the shores of one of the rivers.
Fortunately for him it happened there, and not hundreds of miles away in the interior, where in all probability for want of help his life would have been sacrificed.
His companions, however, got him on board a boat, and by easy stages he was taken down to Rio, where he awoke from his feverish dream, weak as a child, wasted almost to nothing, into what appeared to him another dream, for he was in a pleasantly-shaded bedroom, with someone seated beside him, holding his hand, and gazing eagerly into his wandering eyes.
“Vane,” he said, in a low, excited whisper; “do you know me.”
“Distin!” said Vane feebly, as he gazed in the handsome dark face of the gentleman bending over him.
“Hah!” was ejaculated with a sigh of content; “you’ll get over it now; but I’ve been horribly afraid for days.”
“What’s been the matter?” said Vane, feebly. “Am I at the rectory? Where’s Mr Syme? And my uncle?”