"Well, yes." Mrs. Pickering agreed with her. Country gentlemen often found so much to do in looking after their tenants and making improvements that she would not say anything about them. But young men with small incomes and no profession--she should be sorry if a son of hers-- "Like me, for instance," said Percival, looking up. "I've a small income and no profession." Mrs. Pickering, somewhat confused, hastened to explain that she meant nothing personal. "Of course not," he said: "I know that. I only mentioned it because I think an illustration stamps a thing on people's memories." "But, Percival," Mrs. Blake interposed, "I must say that in this I agree with Mrs. Pickering. I do think it would be better if you had something to do--I do indeed." She looked at him with an air of affectionate severity. "I speak as your friend, you know." (Percival bowed his gratitude.) "I really think young people are happier when they have a settled occupation." "I dare say that is true, as a rule," he said. "But you don't think you would be?" questioned Lottie. He turned to her with a smile: "Well, I doubt it. Of course I don't know how happy I might be if I had been brought up to a profession." He glanced through the open window at the warm loveliness of June. "At this moment, for instance, I might have been writing a sermon or cutting off a man's leg. But, somehow, I am very well satisfied as I am." "Oh, if you mean to make fun of it--" Mrs. Blake began. "But I don't," Percival said quickly. "I may laugh, but I'm in earnest too. I have plenty to eat and drink; I can pay my tailor and still have a little money in my pocket; I am my own master. Sometimes I ride--another man's horse: if not I walk, and am just as well content. I don't smoke--I don't bet--I have no expensive tastes. What could money do for me that I should spend the best years of my life in slaving for it?" "That may be all very well for the present," said Mrs. Blake. "Why not for the future too? Oh, I have my dream for the future too." "And, pray, may one ask what it is?" said Mrs. Pickering, looking down on him from the height of William's prosperity. "Certainly," he said. "Some day I shall leave England and travel leisurely about the Continent. I shall have a sky over my head compared with which this blue is misty and pale. I shall gain new ideas. I shall get grapes and figs and melons very cheap. There will be a little too much garlic in my daily life--even such a destiny as mine must have its drawbacks--but think of the wonderful scenery I shall see and the queer, beautiful out-of-the-way holes and corners I shall discover! And in years to come I shall rejoice, without envy, to hear that Mr. Blake has bought a large estate and gains prizes for fat cattle, while my friend here has been knighted on the occasion of some city demonstration."