tell me once you were
called to the Bar?'

'Not called,' corrected Mark, 'I have passed the examination, though;
there is only the ceremony to be gone through.'

'Why not go through it, and try your fortune as a barrister, then,
you're just the man for a jury? We shall have you taking silk in ten
years.'

Mark laughed bitterly. 'How am I to live till I get a practice?' he
said; 'I've only a couple of hundred or so left in the world, and that
would scarcely pay for my fees and chambers for more than a year.'

'Ah, is that so? I see,' said the old gentleman, 'yes, yes--but, see
here, Ashburn, start all the same with what you've got, who knows how
soon you may get work--can't your father-in-law do anything for you?
and while you're waiting, why not take some pupils under the rose, eh?
I was asked the other day to recommend a coach to two young rascals
who want to be forked into the Civil Service. You could do that for
them if you liked, and they'd bring you others. And--and I'm going to
take a liberty very likely, but I've put by a little money in the
course of my life, and I've no one to leave it to. I don't know how it
is, but I feel an interest in you, Ashburn; perhaps I want somebody
to be sorry for me when I'm gone, anyway, I--I wish you'd let me see
you through any money difficulties till you're fairly started--it
won't be long now, I'll wager, you can treat it as a loan if you
prefer it. I want you to give yourself a chance at the Bar. Don't
refuse me now, or I shall take it unkindly.'

Mark was deeply touched, he had not suspected Mr. Shelford of really
caring about him, and the kindness and sympathy of this offer made him
feel how little he deserved such friendship; and then the familiar
class-rooms, dusty and stuffy at the close of a summer day, had
brought back all his old weariness of school routine. He had outlived
his yearning for literary fame, but he still wished to make a figure
somewhere, somehow--why might not he do so at the Bar, in that line
where solid learning is less necessary than the fluent tongue and
unfailing resource, which he felt he could reckon upon.

He shook the other's hand gratefully. 'I don't know how to thank you,'
he said, 'you've put some heart in me again. I will try my luck as you
advise; perhaps with coaching and the money I have by me I need not
take advantage of all your kindness, but there is no one I would come
to for help like you when I can keep up no longer. I'll ta