,
believe me, father, in the hope that there may be a franker spirit, a worthier
reliance, and a kinder confidence between us in time to come.«
    »My good fellow,« said his smiling father, »you quite affect me. Go on, my
dear Edward, I beg. But remember your promise. There is great earnestness, vast
candour, a manifest sincerity in all you say, but I fear I observe the faintest
indications of a tendency to prose.«
    »I am very sorry, sir.«
    »I am very sorry, too, Ned, but you know that I cannot fix my mind for any
long period upon one subject. If you'll come to the point at once, I'll imagine
all that ought to go before, and conclude it said. Oblige me with the milk
again. Listening invariably makes me feverish.«
    »What I would say then, tends to this,« said Edward. »I cannot bear this
absolute dependence, sir, even upon you. Time has been lost and opportunity
thrown away, but I am yet a young man, and may retrieve it. Will you give me the
means of devoting such abilities and energies as I possess, to some worthy
pursuit? Will you let me try to make for myself an honourable path in life? For
any term you please to name - say for five years if you will - I will pledge
myself to move no further in the matter of our difference without your full
concurrence. During that period, I will endeavour earnestly and patiently, if
ever man did, to open some prospect for myself, and free you from the burden you
fear I should become if I married one whose worth and beauty are her chief
endowments. Will you do this, sir? At the expiration of the term we agree upon,
let us discuss this subject again. Till then, unless it is revived by you, let
it never be renewed between us.«
    »My dear Ned,« returned his father, laying down the newspaper at which he
had been glancing carelessly, and throwing himself back in the window-seat, »I
believe you know how very much I dislike what are called family affairs, which
are only fit for plebeian Christmas days, and have no manner of business with
people of our condition. But as you are proceeding upon a mistake, Ned -
altogether upon a mistake - I will conquer my repugnance to entering on such
matters, and give you a perfectly plain and candid answer, if you will do me the
favour to shut
