“Nor do I expect it, Mr. Clifford,” I replied hastily, and with some indignation. “It is my wish, sir, to draw as little as possible from your income and resources. I would not rob Julia Clifford of a single dollar. Nay, sir, I trust before many years to be able to refund you every copper which has been spent upon me from the moment I entered your household.” He said hastily:-- “I wish nothing of that, Edward;--but the law is a study of years, and is expensive and unpromising in every respect. Your clothes already call for a considerable sum, and such a profession requires, more than almost any other, that a student should be well dressed.” “I promise you, sir, that my dress shall be such as shall not trespass upon your income. I shall be governed by as much economy--” He interrupted me to say, that “His duty required that his brother's son should be dressed as well as his associates.” I replied, with tolerable composure:-- “I do not think, sir, that bricklaying will admit of very genteel clothing, nor do I think that the vocation will suit me. I have flattered myself, sir, that my talents--” “Oh, you have talents, then, have you? Well, it is fortunate that the discovery has been made in season.” I bore with this, though my cheek was burning, and said--with an effort to preserve my voice and temper, in which, though the difficulty was great, I was tolerably successful-- “You have misunderstood me in some things, Mr. Clifford; and I will try now to explain myself clearly in others. Having resolved, sir, that the law shall be my profession---” “Ha! resolved, say you?” “Yes, sir.” “Well, go on--go on!” “Having resolved to pursue the study of law, and seeing that I am burdensome and expensive to you--believing, too, that I can relieve you of the burden--I have simply requested permission of you to make the attempt.” “Why, how do you propose to do so?--how can you support yourself--that is relieve me of the burden of your expenses--and study the law at the same time?” “Such things have been done, sir; and can be done again. I flatter myself I can do it. Industry will enable me to do so. I propose to apply for a clerkship in a mercantile establishment which I know stands in need of assistance, and while there will pursue my studies in such intervals of leisure as the business will afford me.” “You seem to have the matter ready cut and dry. Why do you come to me, then? Remember, I can make no advances.” “I need none, sir. My simple object with you, sir, was to declare my intention, and to request that I may be permitted to refer to you the merchants to whom I mean to apply, for a knowledge of my character and attainments.”