g would be to go into
your office." Mr. Lenox reached over for the cigar-lamp. His cigar had
gone out, and his hand shook as he applied the flame to it. He did not
reply for a moment.

"I understand," he said at last. "It would seem the obvious thing to do,
as you say, but," he clicked his teeth together doubtfully, "I don't see
how it can be managed at present, and I don't think it is what I should
desire for you in any case. The fact is," he went on, "my business has
always been a sort of specialty, and, though it is still worth doing
perhaps, it is not what it used to be. Conditions and methods have
changed--and," he added, "I am too old to change with them."

"I am not," said John.

"In fact," resumed his father, ignoring John's assertion, "as things are
going now, I couldn't make a place for you in my office unless I
displaced Melig and made you my manager, and for many reasons I couldn't
do that. I am too dependent on Melig. Of course, if you came with me it
would be as a partner, but--"

"No," said John, "I should be a poor substitute for old Melig for a good
while, I fancy."

"My idea would be," said Mr. Lenox, "that you should undertake a
profession--say the law. It is a fact that the great majority of men
fail in business, and then most of them, for lack of training or special
aptitude, fall into the ranks of clerks and subordinates. On the other
hand, a man who has a profession--law, medicine, what not--even if he
does not attain high rank, has something on which he can generally get
along, at least after a fashion, and he has the standing. That is my
view of the matter, and though I confess I often wonder at it in
individual cases, it is my advice to you."

"It would take three or four years to put me where I could earn anything
to speak of," said John, "even providing that I could get any business
at the end of the time."

"Yes," said his father, "but the time of itself isn't of so much
consequence. You would be living at home, and would have your
allowance--perhaps," he suggested, "somewhat diminished, seeing that you
would be here--"

"I can get on with half of it," said John confidently.

"We will settle that matter afterward," said Mr. Lenox.

They sat in silence for some minutes, John staring thoughtfully at the
table, unconscious of the occasional scrutiny of his father's glance. At
last he said, "Well, sir, I will do anything that you advise."

"Have you anything to urge against it?" as