 second,« said
Mrs. Badger, speaking of her former husbands as if they were parts of a charade,
»I still enjoyed opportunities of observing youth. The class attendant on
Professor Dingo's lectures was a large one, and it became my pride, as the wife
of an eminent scientific man seeking herself in science the utmost consolation
it could impart, to throw our house open to the students, as a kind of
Scientific Exchange. Every Tuesday evening there was lemonade and a mixed
biscuit, for all who chose to partake of those refreshments. And there was
science to an unlimited extent.«
    (»Remarkable assemblies those, Miss Summerson,« said Mr. Badger,
reverentially. »There must have been great intellectual friction going on there,
under the auspices of such a man!«)
    »And now,« pursued Mrs. Badger, »now that I am the wife of my dear third,
Mr. Badger, I still pursue those habits of observation which were formed during
the lifetime of Captain Swosser, and adapted to new and unexpected purposes
during the lifetime of Professor Dingo. I therefore have not come to the
consideration of Mr. Carstone as a Neophyte. And yet I am very much of the
opinion, my dears, that he has not chosen his profession advisedly.«
    Ada looked so very anxious now, that I asked Mrs. Badger on what she founded
her supposition?
    »My dear Miss Summerson,« she replied, »on Mr. Carstone's character and
conduct. He is of such a very easy disposition, that probably he would never
think it worth while to mention how he really feels; but, he feels languid about
the profession. He has not that positive interest in it which makes it his
vocation. If he has any decided impression in reference to it, I should say it
was that it is a tiresome pursuit. Now, this is not promising. Young men, like
Mr. Allan Woodcourt, who take it from a strong interest in all that it can do,
will find some reward in it through a great deal of work for a very little
money, and through years of considerable endurance and disappointment. But I am
quite convinced that this would never be the case with Mr. Carstone.«
    »Does Mr. Badger think so too?« asked Ada, timidly.
    »Why,« said Mr. Badger, »to tell the truth, Miss Clare, this view of the
matter had not occurred to me until Mrs. Badger mentioned it. But, when Mrs.
Badger put it in that light
