He'd like me to bring home prizes or cups. I don't think he'd mind what
it was, so long as he could be proud about it. Of course he never
_says_ anything: but a fellow gets to know."

"I daresay you're right," I said. "But what has this to do with
insuring yourself for twenty thousand pounds?"

"Well, you see, I'm to go into the Bank some day: and I expect my father
thinks I shall be just as big a duffer at that. I know he does.
But I'm not, if he'd only trust me a bit. So now if we were to smash
up--collide, go off the rails, run over a bridge, or something of that
sort--just think how he'd feel when he found out I'd cleared twenty
thousand by it!"

"So that's what you were picturing to yourself?"

He nodded. "That, and the smash, and all. I kept saying, 'Now--if it
comes this moment?' And I wondered a little how it would take _you_
suddenly: whether you'd start up or fall forward--and if you would say
anything."

"You are a cheerful companion!"

He grinned politely. "And afterwards--just before the train stopped I
had a splendid idea. I began making my will. You see, I know
something about investments. I read about them every day."

"In the _Boy's Own Paper?_"

"We take in the _Standard_ in our school library, and I have it all to