theneedful,’whichIcanonlygetbyworking.Irepeatit,youhavetakenmyworkfromme.”
“Whatdoyoumeantodo?”pursuedHunsdencoolly.“YouhaveinfluentialrelationsIsupposethey’llsoonprovideyouwithanotherplace.”
“Influentialrelations?Who?Ishouldliketoknowtheirnames.”
“TheSeacombes.”
“Stuff!Ihavecutthem.”
Hunsdenlookedatmeincredulously.
“Ihave,”saidI,“andthatdefinitively.”
“Youmustmeantheyhavecutyou,William.”
“Asyouplease.TheyofferedmetheirpatronageonconditionofmyenteringtheChurchIdeclinedboththetermsandtherecompenceIwithdrewfrommycolduncles,andpreferredthrowingmyselfintomyelderbrother’sarms,fromwhoseaffectionateembraceIamnowtornbythecruelintermeddlingofastranger—ofyourself,inshort.”
Icouldnotrepressahalf-smileasIsaidthisasimilardemi-manifestationoffeelingappearedatthesamemomentonHunsden’slips.
“Oh,Isee!”saidhe,lookingintomyeyes,anditwasevidenthedidseerightdownintomyheart.Havingsataminuteortwowithhischinrestingonhishand,diligentlyoccupiedinthecontinuedperusalofmycountenance,hewenton:
“Seriously,haveyouthennothingtoexpectfromtheSeacombes?”
“Yes,rejectionandrepulsion.Whydoyouaskmetwice?Howcanhandsstainedwiththeinkofacounting-house,soiledwiththegreaseofawool-warehouse,everagainbepermittedtocomeintocontactwitharistocraticpalms?”
“Therewouldbeadifficulty,nodoubtstillyouaresuchacompleteSeacombeinappearance,feature,language,almostmanner,Iwondertheyshoulddisownyou.”
“Theyhavedisownedmesotalknomoreaboutit.”
“Doyouregretit,William?”
“No.”
“Whynot,lad?”
“BecausetheyarenotpeoplewithwhomIcouldeverhavehadanysympathy.”
“Isayyouareoneofthem.”
“ThatmerelyprovesthatyouknownothingatallaboutitIammymother’sson,butnotmyuncles’nephew.”
“Still—oneofyourunclesisalord,thoughratheranobscureandnotaverywealthyone,andtheotherarighthonourable:youshouldconsiderworldlyinterest.”
“Nonsense,Mr.Hunsden.YouknowormayknowthatevenhadIdesiredtobesubmissivetomyuncles,Icouldnothavestoopedwithagoodenoughgraceevertohavewontheirfavour.Isho