w on the subject of
'publication' or the desire to give his uncle a lesson.

'Libel! Why, I never wrote anything--only underlined a passage 'ere
and there. You don't call that libelling!'

'A judge might, and, any way, Uncle, it's deuced unpleasant for _me_.
He was here abusing me all the afternoon--when I never had any idea of
putting the hot-headed old idiot into a book. It's too bad--it really
is!'

''Umpage won't law me--he's had enough of that. Don't you be afraid,
and don't show yourself poor-spirited. You've done me a good turn by
showing up 'Umpage as what I believe him to be--what's the good of
pretending you never meant it--to me? You don't know how pleased
you've made me. It's made a great difference in _your_ prospects,
young man, I can tell yer!'

'So you told me at the "Cock,"' said Mark.

'I don't mean that way, this time. I dessay I spoke rather 'asty then;
I didn't know what sort of littery line you were going to take up
with, but if you go on as you've begun, you're all right. And when I
have a nephew that makes people talk about him and shows up them that
makes themselves unpleasant as neighbours, why, what I say is, Make
the most of him! And that brings me to what I've come about. How are
you off in the matter o' money, hey?'

Mark was already beginning to feel rather anxious about his expenses.
His uncle's cheque was by this time nearly exhausted, his salary at
St. Peter's was not high and, as he had already sent in his
resignation, that source of income would dry up very shortly. He had
the money paid him for 'Illusion,' but that of course he could not
use; he had not sunk low enough for that, though he had no clear ideas
what to do with it. He would receive handsome sums for his next two
novels, but that would not be for some time, and meanwhile his
expenses had increased with his new life to a degree that surprised
himself, for Mark was not a young man of provident habits.

So he gave his uncle to understand that, though he expected to be paid
some heavy sums in a few months, his purse was somewhat light at
present.

'Why didn't you come to me?' cried his uncle; 'you might a' known _I_
shouldn't have stinted you. You've never found me near with you. And
now you're getting a big littery pot, and going about among the nobs
as I see your name with, why, you must keep up the position you've
made--and you shall too! You're quite right to drop the
schoolmastering, since you make more money w