'
'A man can't sit down to dinner by himself,' cried Ulick,
impatiently. 'Tea with a book are all that is bearable.'
'And you never go out--never see any one.'
'I dine at my uncle's every Sunday,' said Ulick.
'Is that all the variety you have?'
'Why, my uncle told me he would not have me getting into what he
calls idle company. I've dined once at the vicarage, and drunk tea
twice with Mr. Hope, but it is no use thinking of it--I couldn't
afford it, and that's the truth.'
'Have you any books? What can you find to do all the evening?'
'I have a few that bear reading pretty often, and Mr. Hope as lent me
some. I've been trying to keep up my Greek, and then I do believe
there's some way of simplifying those accounts by logarithms, if I
could but work it out. But my mother told me to walk, and I assure
you I do take a constitutional as soon as I come out at half-past
four every day.'
'Well, I have designs, and mind you don't traverse them, or I shall
have to report you at home. I have a lodging in my eye for you, away
from the river, and a nice clean, tidy Irishwoman to keep you in
order, make your fires, and cram you, if you wont eat, and see if she
does not make a man of you--'
'Stop, stop, Mrs. Kendal!' cried Ulick, distressed. 'You are very
kind, but it can't be.'
'Excuse me, it is economy of the wrong sort to live in a gutter, and
catch agues and fevers. Only think, if it was my boy Gilbert, should
I not be obliged to any one that would tyrannize over him for his
good! Besides, what I propose is not at all beyond such means as Mr.
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