He pondered over this as he proceeded towards his home. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead. "I have it," he said to himself. "I will have a peg, which, when being driven, will go all right, but when pulled about, will release two small prongs at the sides. This will make it impossible for anyone to pull it up; a small knob will be affixed which, when turned, will replace the prongs, and the peg will come out in a jiffy."
"Ah!" he went on thinking, "this would be a useful thing, an article which would command a ready sale. Besides, it would be used wherever a good gripping peg would be necessary."
He was enthusiastic. His mind was already full of different schemes which he would start when he had acquired fame and riches.
When he came home, he was so sure of success that he imparted his idea to his step-mother, with whom he was not generally very confidant.
Poor Frank! the volley of mockery which he received quite baffled him.
"So you think to make your fortune in that way," she said. "No, no, my boy, you never will."
"But don't you see that it's a most useful thing, that——"
"Stop, stop," she interrupted, "don't make me laugh. Do you think that people are going to listen to your nonsense? Why! your peg would get clogged with earth and would not act."
"Wouldn't it though, at any rate, it's worth thinking over, so I'll do that."
"If you choose to spend your money in that fashion, you can do so," retorted the lady, smiling contemptuously.