I used to long for a horse-whip
to lay about them, till they spoke to me, and then not one of the
rogues but won my heart with his fun and good-nature.'
'Then I suppose it is a great thing to have one in the way of
money-making.'
'Hem! The Celtic blood is all in commotion! This boy's business was
to ask my candid opinion whether there were anything ungentlemanlike
in a clerkship in a bank. It was well it was not you!'
'Now, Maurice, don't you know how glad I should have been if Gilbert
would have been as wise!'
'Yes, you have some common sense after all, which is more than Ulick
attributes to his kith and kin. When I had proved the respectability
of banking to his conviction, I'll not say satisfaction, he made me
promise to write to his father. He is making up his mind to what is
not only a great vexation to himself, and very irksome employment,
but he knows he shall be looked down upon as having lost caste with
all his family!'
'It really is heroism!' cried Albinia.
'It is,' said Mr. Ferrars; 'he does not trust himself to face the
clan, and means to get into harness at once, so as to clench his
resolution, and relieve his parents from his maintenance
immediately.'
'Is he to live with that formal Miss Goldsmith?'
'No. In solitary lodgings, after that noisy family and easy home! I
can't think how he will stand it. I should not wonder if the
Galwegian was too strong after all.
Pages:
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417