
should be the subject of such influences, and escape them.«
    I felt this to be true; though, if I may venture to mention what I thought
besides, I thought it much to be regretted that Richard's education had not
counteracted those influences, or directed his character. He had been eight
years at a public school, and had learnt, I understood, to make Latin Verses of
several sorts, in the most admirable manner. But I never heard that it had been
anybody's business to find out what his natural bent was, or where his failings
lay, or to adapt any kind of knowledge to him. He had been adapted to the
Verses, and had learnt the art of making them to such perfection, that if he had
remained at school until he was of age, I suppose he could only have gone on
making them ever and over again, unless he had enlarged his education by
forgetting how to do it. Still, although I had no doubt that they were very
beautiful, and very improving, and very sufficient for a great many purposes of
life, and always remembered all through life, I did doubt whether Richard would
not have profited by some one studying him a little, instead of his studying
them quite so much.
    To be sure, I knew nothing of the subject, and do not even now know whether
the young gentlemen of classic Rome or Greece made verses to the same extent -
or whether the young gentlemen of any country ever did.
    »I haven't the least idea,« said Richard, musing, »what I had better be.
Except that I am quite sure I don't want to go into the Church, it's a toss-up.«
    »You have no inclination in Mr. Kenge's way?« suggested Mr. Jarndyce.
    »I don't know that, sir!« replied Richard. »I am fond of boating. Articled
clerks go a good deal on the water. It's a capital profession!«
    »Surgeon -« suggested Mr. Jarndyce.
    »That's the thing, sir!« cried Richard.
    I doubt if he had ever once thought of it before.
    »That's the thing, sir!« repeated Richard, with the greatest enthusiasm. »We
have got it at last. M. R. C. S.!«
    He was not to be laughed out of it, though he laughed at it heartily. He
said he had chosen his profession, and the more he thought of it, the
