to pay, I don't see what you 'ave to say against it. All _you've_ got
to do is to work.'

'Uncle,' said Mark in a low voice, 'I must tell you what I feel about
this. I--I don't want to cause you to spend your money on false
pretences.'

'You'd better not: that's all I can tell you!'

'Precisely,' said Mark; 'so I'll be quite frank with you beforehand.
If you set your mind on it, I will take my call to the Bar.'

'_Will_ yer, though? That's very affable of you, now!'

'Yes, I will; but I shall never practise; if Ferret's agent sends me
this brief, I shall decline it.'

'I would; that's the way to get on at the Bar; you're a sharp feller,
_you_ are!'

'I don't want to get on at the Bar. I don't mean to take it up; there,
if you choose to be angry, I can't help it. I've told you.'

'Then may I take the liberty of inquirin' _'ow_ you purpose to live?'
demanded Uncle Solomon.

'I mean to live by literature,' said Mark; 'I know I promised I
wouldn't write any more: well, as far as that goes, I've kept my word;
but--but a former book of mine has been accepted on very liberal
terms, I see my way now to making a living by my pen, and though I'm
sorry, of course, if it disappoints you, I mean to choose my life for
myself, while I can.'

It must be highly annoying when one has, after infinite labour,
succeeded in converting a clown, to see him come to chapel with a
red-hot poker and his pockets full of stolen sausages; but even that
shock is nothing to Uncle Solomon's.

He turned deadly pale and sank back in the box, glaring at Mark and
opening his mouth once or twice with a fish-like action, but without
speaking. When he could articulate, he called the waiter, giving Mark
reason for a moment to fear that he was going to pour out his rage and
disappointment into the ears of one of the smug and active attendants.

'Take for me and this young man, will yer?' was all he said, however.
When the waiter had reckoned up the sum in the time-honoured manner
and departed, Uncle Solomon turned and began to struggle into his
great-coat. 'Let me help you,' said Mark, but Mr. Lightowler
indignantly jerked himself away. 'I don't want to be helped into my
coat by you,' he said; 'you've helped me into my grave by what you've
done this day, you have; let that be sufficient for you!'

When he had rendered himself rather conspicuous by his ineffectual
attempts to put on the coat, and was reduced to accept the assistance
of two wait