 skulls arranged in Surgeons' Hall for the contemplation of the whole
profession - in order that its younger members might understand from actual
measurement, in early life, how thick skulls may become!«
    He wound up this vehement declaration by looking round upon us with a most
agreeable smile, and suddenly thundering, Ha, ha, ha! over and over again, until
anybody else might have been expected to be quite subdued by the exertion.
    As Richard still continued to say that he was fixed in his choice, after
repeated periods for consideration had been recommended by Mr. Jarndyce, and had
expired; and he still continued to assure Ada and me, in the same final manner,
that it was all right; it became advisable to take Mr. Kenge into council. Mr.
Kenge, therefore, came down to dinner one day, and leaned back in his chair, and
turned his eye-glasses over and over, and spoke in a sonorous voice, and did
exactly what I remembered to have seen him do when I was a little girl.
    »Ah!« said Mr. Kenge. »Yes. Well! A very good profession, Mr. Jarndyce; a
very good profession.«
    »The course of study and preparation requires to be diligently pursued,«
observed my Guardian, with a glance at Richard.
    »O, no doubt,« said Mr. Kenge. »Diligently.«
    »But that being the case, more or less, with all pursuits, that are worth
much,« said Mr. Jarndyce, »it is not a special consideration which another
choice would be likely to escape.«
    »Truly,« said Mr. Kenge. »And Mr. Richard Carstone, who has so meritoriously
acquitted himself in the - shall I say the classic shades? - in which his youth
had been passed, will, no doubt, apply the habits, if not the principles and
practice, of versification in that tongue in which a poet was said (unless I
mistake) to be born, not made, to the more eminently practical field of action
on which he enters.«
    »You may rely upon it,« said Richard, in his off-hand manner, »that I shall
go at it and do my best.«
    »Very well, Mr. Jarndyce!« said Mr. Kenge, gently nodding his head. »Really,
when we are assured by Mr. Richard that he means to go at it, and to do his
best,« nodding feelingly and smoothly over those expressions; »I would submit to
you,
