pay 'im, eh?"

His eyes were remarkably small, but marvellously bright and piercing;
so much so that when he turned them again upon me I tried to think
quickly of something nice about him, feeling sure that he could see
right into me.

"And where are you thinkin' of sendin' 'im?" he continued; "Eton or
'Arrow?"

"We haven't quite made up our minds as yet," replied my father; "at
present we are educating him at home."

"You take my tip," said the fat man, "and learn all you can. Look at
me! If I'd 'ad the opportunity of being a schollard I wouldn't be
here offering your father an extravagant price for doin' my work; I'd
be able to do it myself."

"You seem to have got on very well without it," laughed my father; and
in truth his air of prosperity might have justified greater
self-complacency. Rings sparkled on his blunt fingers, and upon the
swelling billows of his waistcoat rose and sank a massive gold cable.

"I'd 'ave done better with it," he grunted.

"But you look very clever," I said; and though divining with a child's
cuteness that it was desired I should make a favourable impression
upon him, I hoped this would please him, the words were yet
spontaneous.