keeping until then."

"Yes," whispered Peer.

"What?--are you crying?"

"N-no. Good-morning--"

"No, pray don't go yet. Sit down. There are one or two things we must
get settled at once. First of all--you must trust me, my good boy. Do
you believe that I wish you well, or do you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then it is agreed that all these fancies about going to college and so
forth must be driven out of your head once for all?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"You can see yourself that, even supposing you had the mental
qualifications, such a sum, generous as it is in itself, would not
suffice to carry you far."

"No-no, sir."

"On the other hand, if you wish it, I will gladly arrange to get you an
apprentice's place with a good handicraftsman here. You would have free
board there, and--well, if you should want clothes the first year or so,
I dare say we could manage that. You will be better without pocket-money
to fling about until you can earn it for yourself."