there
was a little pause. Esther half wondered that he did not get up and go
away; but there was no sign of that. Pitt sat quietly, thoughtfully,
also contentedly, before her, at least so far as appeared; of all his
thoughts, not one of them concerned going away. It had begun to be a
mixed pleasure to Esther, his being there; for she thought now that he
was married he would be taken up with his own home interests, and the
friend of other days, if still living, would be entirely lost. And so
every look and expression of his which testified to a fine and sweet
and strong character, which proved him greatly ennobled and beautified
beyond what she had remembered him; and all his words, which showed the
gentleman, the man of education and the man of ability; while they
greatly delighted Esther, they began oddly to make her feel alone and
poor. Still, she would use her opportunity, and make the most of this
interview.

'And what are you going to be, Pitt?' she asked, when both of them had
been quite still for a few minutes. He turned his face quick towards
her with a look of question.

'Now you are a man of property,' said Esther, 'what do you think to do?
You were going to read law.'

'I have been reading law for two or three years.'

'And are you going to give it up?'

'Why should I give it up?'

'The question seems rather, why should you go on with it?'

'Put it so,' he said. 'Ask the question. Why should I go on with it?'

'I _have_ asked the question,' said Esther, laughing. 'You seem to come
to me for the answer.'

'I do. What is the answer? Give it, please. Is there any reason why a
man who has money enough to live upon should go to the bar?'

'I can think of but one,' said Esther, grave and wondering now.
'Perhaps there is one reason.'

'And that?' said Pitt, without looking at her.

'I can think of but one,' Esther repeated. 'It is not a man's business
view, I know, but it is mine. I can think of no reason why, for itself,
a man should plunge himself into the strifes and confusions of the law,
supposing that he _need_ not, except for the one sake of righting the
wrong and delivering the oppressed.'

'That is my view,' said Pitt quietly.

'And is that what you are going to do?' she said with smothered
eagerness, and as well a smothered pang.

'I do not propose to be a lawyer merely,' he said, in the same quiet
way, not looking at her. 'But I thought it would give me an advantage
in the great busine