"Aha! that was in your mind then. I rather suspected it. Rupert's reports, eh?"
"Yes," I said. "It seems a nice life, and I might do well as a soldier; what do you think?"
My mother leaned forward.
"Victor, do not set your heart upon it, I think that it will be impossible."
"Oh, am I also to know the reason for that, some day?"
"Yes," she answered, "that goes with the rest."
"Well, I shall be very pleased when that day comes."
"Ah!" said Mr. Neville. "I wonder."
We sat silent for a while, and then I said again:
"What am I to do? You know, I am completely in the dark about everything. I have been supplied with money, it is true, but is it mine, or is it yours, mother? These things ought, I think, to be explained to me. Shall I have some day to work for a living, or do I inherit anything when I come of age, because I feel that, in the latter case, I can take a course that will be totally different to what it would be supposing I had to earn bread and cheese."