"But then, you see, I could not, father," said his son good-humouredly. "Antony Grace here is a born engineer, and you'll have to make him a partner one of these days." I hardly heard their words, for my anxiety about Hallett. I seemed to have been trampling upon his hopes, and as if I had been wanting in forethought after having the superintendence of the manufacture for so long. "I ought to have suggested these alterations before," I faltered. "How could you?" said Mr Girtley gruffly. "You only saw the failing just now. I can see it, of course, when you point it out. We only climb by our falls, Grace. Locomotives were only got to their present perfection after no end of failures. Well, Mr Hallett, what do you say?" "Antony Grace is quite right," he replied. "That is undoubtedly a failing spot, and where, if driven at high speed, the machine would break down. I have had no training as an engineer, and have had to work blindfold, and in the midst of difficulties." "Mr Hallett," said the great engineer, "I have had training as an engineer--a long and arduous training--and I tell you that if you had had twice as much experience as I, you would not have succeeded with your contrivance the very first time. I threw myself into this affair as soon as I saw it, for I felt that it was one of those machines that make their mark in history; and now that we are going to try it, even if it does not come up to our expectations, I say, don't be discouraged, for I tell you it must and will succeed. I'm not a proud man, as a rule, but I am proud of my reputation, and if money is wanted to bring your great invention to perfection, the cash shall be forthcoming, even if we have to borrow." "Hear, hear!" cried Mr Jabez, and a slight flush appeared in Hallett's pale face. "I'm very sorry I spoke, Hallett," I whispered to him, as I took his hand. "What, for giving me such great help?" he said, smiling. "You foolish fellow, Antony, I am not a spoilt child, that I cannot bear to listen to my mistakes." Our conversation was broken off here; for just then a couple of gentlemen arrived, and these were followed by others, till the room was quite full. For invitations had been sent out to some of the principal printers and newspaper proprietors to come and see the testing of the new machine. Hallett, as the patentee, had to throw off his reserve, and come, as it were, out of his shell to answer questions, and point out the various peculiarities and advantages of his machine, all of which I noticed were received with a good deal of reserve; and there was a shrug of the shoulders here, a raising of the eyebrows there, while one coarse-minded fellow said brutally: "Plaything, gentlemen, plaything. Such a machine cannot possibly answer. The whole principle is wrong, and it must break own."