"Well, it's just this," Marley began, smiling persistently; "you see I've begun the study of law; I had intended to be a lawyer." "We've got plenty o' lawyers," said Dudley. "That's just the conclusion I have come to, and I was thinking somewhat of making a change. And so I thought I'd come and ask you, that is, your advice." Dudley, still cautious, made no reply, and Marley almost despaired of getting on easy terms. He began to wish he had not come; he might have known this, he said to himself, and his smile and the confidence with which he had come began to leave him. But he must make another effort. "You see, Mr. Dudley," he said, "I thought, as things are nowadays, I would have to wait years before I could really do anything in the law, and as I have my own way to make in the world, I thought, you know, I might get into something else." "What, for instance?" asked Dudley. "Well, I didn't exactly know; I had hardly thought it out,--that's why I came to you, knowing you to be a man of large affairs." Dudley had an instant's vision of his bank, of his stocks, and of the many farms all over Gordon County on which he held mortgages, but he checked his impulse; these very possessions must be guarded; people envied him them, and while this envy in one way was among the sources of his few joys, it nevertheless gave rise to covetousness which was prohibited by the tenth commandment. "So you want my advice, eh?" he asked, looking hard at Marley. "Yes, sir." "And that's all?" he asked suspiciously. "Well--any suggestions," Marley said. Dudley still hesitated. He continued to study Marley out of his little eyes. Presently he inquired, as if by way of getting a basis to start on: "You been to college, ain't you?" "Yes, sir," Marley answered promptly; "I graduated in June." "How long was you there?" "Why," Marley replied in some surprise, "the full four years." "Four years," Dudley repeated. "How old?" "Twenty-two." "Well, that's that much time wasted. If a young man's going to get along these times, and make anything of himself, he has to start early, learn business ways and habits. He's got to begin at the bottom, and feel his way up." The banker was speaking now with a reckless waste of words that was surprising. "The main thing at first is to work; it ain't the money. Now, when I come to Macochee, forty-seven years ago, I hadn't nothing. But I went to work, I was up early, and I went to bed early; I worked hard all day, I 'tended to business, and I saved my money. That's it, young man, that's the only way--up early, work hard, and save your money." Dudley leaned back in his chair to let Marley contemplate him. "But what did you work at? At first, I mean." "Why," said Dudley, as if in surprise, "at anything I could get. I wan't proud; I wan't 'fraid o' work." Marley leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and began twirling his hat in his hands. Then, thinking the attitude lacking in respect, he sat up again.