Bertram had an inkling of this; and Harcourt had more than an inkling. His path in life was chosen, and he had much self-confidence that he had chosen it well. He had never doubted much, and since he had once determined had never doubted at all. He had worked hard, and was prepared to work hard; not trusting over much in his own talents, but trusting greatly in his own industry. But Bertram, with double his friend's genius, had, at any rate as yet, but little of his friend's stability. To him the world was all before him where to choose; but he was sadly in want of something that should guide his choice. He had a high, but at the same time a vague ambition. The law, the church, letters, art, and politics all enticed him; but he could not decide of which mistress the blandishments were the sweetest. "Well, when shall we have you up in London?" said Harcourt. "In London! I don't know that I shall go to London. I shall go down to Hadley for a few weeks of course"--Bertram's uncle lived at the village of that name, in the close vicinity of Barnet--"but what I shall do then, I don't in the least know." "But I know you'll come to London and begin to keep your terms." "What, at the Middle Temple?" "At some Temple or some Inn: of course you won't go where anybody else goes; so probably it will be Gray's Inn." "No, I shall probably do a much more commonplace thing; come back here and take orders." "Take orders! You! You can no more swallow the thirty-nine articles than I can eat Twisleton's dinner." "A man never knows what he can do till he tries. A great deal of good may be done by a clergyman if he be in earnest and not too much wedded to the Church of England. I should have no doubt about it if the voluntary principle were in vogue." "A voluntary fiddlestick!" "Well, even a voluntary fiddlestick--if it be voluntary and well used." "Of course you'll be a barrister. It is what you are cut out for, and what you always intended." "It is the most alluring trade going, I own;--but then they are all such rogues. Of course you will be an exception." "I shall do at Rome as Romans do--I hope always. My doctrine is, that we have no immutable law of right and wrong." "A very comfortable code. I wish I could share it." "Well, you will some of these days; indeed, you do now practically. But the subject is too long to talk of here. But as I know you won't go into the church, I expect to see you settled in London before Christmas." "What am I to live on, my dear fellow?" "Like all good nephews, live on your uncle. Besides, you will have your fellowship; live on that, as I do." "You have more than your fellowship; and as for my uncle, to tell you the truth, I have no fancy for living on him. I am not quite sure that he doesn't mean me to think that it's charity. However, I shall have the matter out with him now." "Have the matter out with him!--and charity! What an ass you are! An uncle is just the same as a father."