Page:Ballantyne--The Battery and the Boiler.djvu/138

120 "Well, now, the gullibility o' some people is stupendous!" returned Rik. "Don't you know, Robin, that everything a'most works for a time, and then, sooner or later—usually sooner—the rediculous thing bursts up?

"But, uncle, you beg the question in classing submarine cables among ridiculous things. Besides, have not dozens of cables been working satisfactorily for many years, without showing signs of bursting up as yet?"

"Pooh! bah! boh!" replied uncle Rik, by which he meant to say that though convinced against his will he was of the same opinion still.

At that moment cousin Sam Shipton entered with an eager, excited look.

"It 's all settled," he said, taking Robin by the hand.

"What is settled?" asked Mrs. Wright, somewhat anxiously.

"Mother, don't be angry," said Robin, laying his hand on his mother's shoulder, and speaking tenderly, "I meant to have told you the moment I came in to-day, but uncle Rik with his argumentative spirit drove it and everything else except cables out of my head—"

"Well, but what is it?" interrupted Madge impatiently; "why do you keep us in suspense?"

"I have some prospect, mother, of being appointed