The other smiled. Tony saw it, and went on: “I know what you mean. You are of old Stewart's opinion. When he heard me once say I had made up my mind, he said, 'It does n't take long to make up a small parcel;' but every fellow, more or less, knows what he can and what he cannot do. Now I cannot be orderly, exact, and punctual,--even the little brains I have I can't be sure of keeping them on the matter before me; but I defy a horse to throw me; I 'll bring you up a crown-piece out of six fathoms water, if it 's clear; I'll kill four swallows out of six with a ball; and though these are not gifts to earn one's bread by, the man that has them need n't starve.” “If I thought that you had really reflected well over this plan,--given it all the thought and consideration it required--” “I have given it just as much consideration as if I took five weeks to it. A man may take an evening over a pint of ale, but it's only a pint, after all,--don't you see that?” M'Gruder was puzzled; perhaps there was some force in the illustration. Tony looked certainly as if he thought he had said a clever thing. “Well, Tony,” said the other, after a moment of grave thought, “you 'll have to go to Genoa to embark, I suppose?” “Yes; the committee sits at Genoa, and every one who enrolls must appear before them.” “You could walk there in four days.” “Yes; but I can steam it in one.” “Ay, true enough; what I mean to ask of you is this, that you will go the whole way on foot; a good walker as you are won't think much of that; and in these four days, as you travel along,--all alone,--you 'll have plenty of time to think over your project. If by the time you reach Genoa you like it as well as ever, I 've no more to say; but if--and mark me, Tony, you must be honest with your own heart--if you really have your doubts and your misgivings; if you feel that for your poor mother's sake--” “There, there! I've thought of all that,” cried Tony, hurriedly. “I 'll make the journey on foot, as you say you wish it, but don't open the thing to any more discussion. If I relent, I 'll come back. There's my hand on it!” “Tony, it gives me a sad heart to part with you;” and he turned away, and stole out of the room.