"It seems to me it's a good plan," said I, referring to Ned's proposal for taking out a patent at once.
"Then we'll go to Aunt Mercy and get the money right away," said he. "What do you say, Fay?"
This conversation took place in the printing-office. Phaeton, after telling us the result of his interviews with the chief engineer, had taken no further part in it, but busied himself setting type.
"I've no special objection," said he, in answer to Ned's question.
"Then let's have your drawing," said Ned, and with that in hand, he and I set off for Aunt Mercy's.
"I don't feel quite right," said Ned, as we went along, "about the way Aunt Mercy has always misunderstood these things. This time I am determined to make her understand it right."
"You mean to let her know that it's Phaeton's invention, and not yours?" said I.
"That's the main thing," said he. "I've got a good deal of credit that belonged to him; but I never meant to take it. She has always managed to misunderstand, somehow, and I could never see any way to correct it without spoiling the whole business."
"But if you tell her that, will she let you have the money?" said I.
"Not so easily, of course," said Ned; "but still Aunt Mercy's a good-hearted woman, after all, and I think I can talk her into doing the generous thing by Fay."