"His personal security has always gone for little. But, as I was saying, I have consented ever since you went to Wilkinson's to allow your father to throw the burthen of your expenses on my shoulders. I thought it a pity that you should not have the chance of a decent education. Mind, I claim no gratitude, as I shall expect your father to pay me what I have advanced." "How on earth can he do that, sir? But perhaps I can." "Can you? very well; then you can settle it with him. But listen to me." "Listen to me for a moment, uncle George. I think you are hard on my father, and certainly hard on me. When I went to Wilkinson's, what did I know of who paid the bill?" "Who says you knew anything, sir?" "And, counting on from that time, at what period ought I to have begun to know it? When should I have first learnt to feel that I was a burden to any one?" "Who has talked about a burden?" "You say I am not to be your heir?" "Certainly not." "I never thought of being your heir. I don't care a straw about being anybody's heir. What you have given freely, I have taken freely. As for my father, if you felt so harshly towards him, why did you let him incur this debt?" "I was to see you kicked out of Wilkinson's house and starve in the ditch, I suppose? But now, if you can control your fine feelings for one moment, will you listen to me? I have never blamed you in the matter at all, and don't blame you now--at least not yet." "I hope you never will--that is about money matters." "Now do listen to me. It seems to me that you are quite astray about a profession. You don't like commerce, and what you said the other day about capital is quite true. I count a man a knave who goes into trade without capital. In a small way we might, perhaps, have managed it. But in a very small way you would not have liked it." "Neither small nor great, sir." "Very well. You need not be afraid that anything very great will be thrust upon you. But it seems to me that what you are most fitted for is a lawyer." Young Bertram paused a moment. "Uncle, I really hardly know. Sometimes I have a strange desire to go into orders." "Very strange indeed! But now, if you will listen to me--I have been speaking to Mr. Dry. Messrs. Dry and Stickatit have done business for me for the last forty years. Now, George, I will advance you three thousand pounds at four per cent.--" "What should I want with three thousand pounds?" "You don't suppose you can get into a house like that without money, do you?" "And be an attorney?" said George, with a look of horror which almost penetrated the thick skin of the old man's feelings. What! had he taken a double-first, been the leading man of his year, spouted at the debating club, and driven himself nearly dizzy with Aristotle for this--for a desk in the office of Messrs. Dry and Stickatit, attorneys of old Bucklersbury! No, not for all the uncles! not for any uncle!