"Yes, father, deeply," said the young man, rising, and then standing holding his mother's hand. "I like sport, and games, and a bit of idleness sometimes, especially for a Continental trip." "Well, if you call that idleness, Phil," said the elder, rubbing his legs, "give me the hardest day's work in the pit. Remember our climbing up the Gummy Pass, mother, last year?" "Oh, don't talk about it, father," said the old lady. "But then we are not so young as we used to be. Go on, Philip, my dear." She held on tightly by her son's hand as she spoke, and kept gazing up at him with a wonderfully proud look. "Well, father, as I say, I like a bit of change." "Of course, my lad; all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." "But I think it is the duty of every young man--boy, if you like, mother," he said, smiling. "Young man, Philip," she replied, "for I'm sure you've grown into a very fine young man." "Ugly as possible," growled the father, with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm sure he's a much finer and handsomer young man than you were when I married you, father!" said the old lady with spirit. "Oh, of course!" chuckled Mr Hexton; "he's lovely! Phil, boy, pray use scented soap and plenty of pomatum." "Come, father, let's set aside joking for the time," said Philip quietly. "I'm very glad to get home again, and to find my mother so proud and happy to have me back--and you, too, sir." Mr Hexton nodded, and changed his position a little. "You want to know what I mean to settle to be, sir?" "Yes, my boy; I should like to know." "Well, father, I'll tell you, for I have thought of it long and deeply, and I have studied chemistry a good deal for that end." "Bravo, Phil!" said Mr Hexton. "A doctor, mother; I thought as much." "No, sir, not a doctor; though I think a medical man's a grand profession, and one only yet in its infancy. But I want to be of some use, father, in my career. I want to save life as a medical man does. You know the old saying, father?" "About getting the wrong pig by the ear, as I did?" "No, sir; about prevention being better than cure." "Yes, my boy; but what are you going to prevent instead of cure?" "I want to prevent so much loss of life in our coal-pits, father." "Oh, my boy, my boy," cried Mrs Hexton passionately; "don't say you want to take up your father's life!" "Why not, mother dear?" said the young man firmly; "would it not be a good and a useful life, to devote one's self to the better management of our mines--to studying nature's forces, and the best way of fighting them for the saving of life?" "But, my boy, my boy, think of the risks!" "I didn't spend hundreds on your education to have you take to a pit life," growled Mr Hexton. "Oh, my boy, it is such a dangerous life. The hours of misery we pass no one knows," cried Mrs Hexton, wringing her hands.