"Perfectly so," said George.
"Because of course you were bound to consult him." If this was intended for irony, it was so well masked that George was not able to be sure of it.
"I did consult him, sir," said George, turning red in accordance with that inveterate and stupid habit of his.
"That was right. And did you consult him about another thing? did you ask him what you were to live on till such time as you could earn your own bread?"
In answer to this, George was obliged to own that he did not. "There was no necessity," said he, "for he knows that I have my fellowship."
"Oh! ah! yes; and that of course relieves him of any further cause for anxiety in the matter. I forgot that."
"Uncle George, you are always very hard on my father; much too hard."
"Am I?"
"I think you are. As regards his duty to me, if I do not complain, you need not."
"Oh! that is it, is it? I did think that up to this, his remissness in doing his duty as a father had fallen rather on my shoulders than on yours. But I suppose I have been mistaken; eh?"