"There's something very grand about being a soldier," I said thoughtfully, "when he fights to save his country; but no, I'm afraid I should be a coward." "A sailor, then?" "No, Miss Carr," I said, shaking my head. "I should either like to be a barrister or a doctor. I think I should like to be a doctor. No, I should like to be an engineer, and help Mr Hallett with his--" I stopped short and coloured, for I felt that I had nearly betrayed my friend. "Well?" she said in a strange, hesitating way, "Mr Hallett's what?" "Please don't think me ungrateful, Miss Carr," I said, "but I cannot tell you. Mr Hallett trusted to me the secret of what he is making, and I cannot say more. Yes, I may say that he is busy over a great invention." I fancied she drew her breath as if it caught and gave her pain, but her face was like marble as she went on. "Antony, you are quite right," she said; "and if I had ever had any doubts about your being a gentleman's son, these words would have removed it. So you would like to be an engineer?" "Yes," I said, "very much." She continued walking up and down the room, and then went on: "You lodge, you say, with a Mr Revitts, a policeman. Is he respectable and nice?" "He's the dearest, best old fellow in the world?" I said with animation. "Old?" "No, no," I said, laughing. "I meant good and kind by old." "Oh," she said, laughing. "But tell me, Antony; is he particular with you?" "Oh yes; he quite watches me, to make sure what I do, and where I go." "Would you like to go to different and better lodgings?" "Oh no," I said. "He is going to be married soon to Mary, who was so good to me at Mr Blakeford's, and they would be so disappointed if I left." "He watches over you, you say?" "Yes, Miss Carr. He was very angry that night when I stopped out late with Mr Hallett, when we had to walk part of the way back." "And--and this Mr Hallett, is--is he a proper companion for such a boy as you?" "Mr Hallett is a gentleman, although he is now only a common workman," I said proudly. "But a youth like you would be easily deceived." "Oh no!" I cried; "don't think that, Miss Carr. I would not give up Mr Hallett for anything. You don't know him," I said almost indignantly. "Why, when his father died, he, poor fellow, had to leave college, and give up all his prospects to gain a living anyhow, to keep his poor sick mother and his sister." "He has a sister?" "Yes: so very pretty: Linny Hallett. I go there, and read Latin and German with Mr Hallett, while he works at his--his great invention. Oh, Miss Carr, if you could see him, so good and tender to his invalid complaining mother, you would say I ought to be only too proud of my friend!" She was pressing my hand as she hastened her steps up and down the room. Then, loosing my hand suddenly, she walked quickly to the window, and threw it open, to stand there for a few minutes gazing out.