After two or three days, when I had established myself in my room and

had gone backwards and forwards to London several times, and had ordered

all I wanted of my tradesmen, Mr. Pocket and I had a long talk together.

He knew more of my intended career than I knew myself, for he referred

to his having been told by Mr. Jaggers that I was not designed for any

profession, and that I should be well enough educated for my destiny

if I could "hold my own" with the average of young men in prosperous

circumstances. I acquiesced, of course, knowing nothing to the contrary.

He advised my attending certain places in London, for the acquisition of

such mere rudiments as I wanted, and my investing him with the functions

Advertisement..

of explainer and director of all my studies. He hoped that with

intelligent assistance I should meet with little to discourage me, and

should soon be able to dispense with any aid but his. Through his way

of saying this, and much more to similar purpose, he placed himself on

confidential terms with me in an admirable manner; and I may state

at once that he was always so zealous and honorable in fulfilling his

compact with me, that he made me zealous and honorable in fulfilling

mine with him. If he had shown indifference as a master, I have no doubt

I should have returned the compliment as a pupil; he gave me no such

excuse, and each of us did the other justice. Nor did I ever regard

him as having anything ludicrous about him--or anything but what was

serious, honest, and good--in his tutor communication with me.

When these points were settled, and so far carried out as that I had

begun to work in earnest, it occurred to me that if I could retain my

bedroom in Barnard's Inn, my life would be agreeably varied, while my

manners would be none the worse for Herbert's society. Mr. Pocket did

not object to this arrangement, but urged that before any step could

possibly be taken in it, it must be submitted to my guardian. I felt

that this delicacy arose out of the consideration that the plan would

save Herbert some expense, so I went off to Little Britain and imparted

my wish to Mr. Jaggers.

"If I could buy the furniture now hired for me," said I, "and one or two

other little things, I should be quite at home there."

"Go it!" said Mr. Jaggers, with a short laugh. "I told you you'd get on.

Well! How much do you want?"




Most Popular