“Capital! Then what withholds you? Isn’t it swell enough?”
Johnny laughed and coloured. “I’m not such a fool, but I am not sure about my people.”
“I thought your uncle was Joseph Brownlow.”
“My aunt would be delighted, but it is my own people. They would say my education—Eton and all that—was not intended for it.”
“You may tell them that whatever tends to make you more thoroughly a man and gentleman, and less of a mere professional, is a benefit to your work. The more you are in yourself, the higher your work will be. I hope you will go to the university.”
“I mean to go up for a scholarship next year; but I’ve lost a great deal of time now, and I don’t know how far that will tell.”
“I think you will find that what you may have lost in time, you will have gained in power.”
“I do want to go in for physical science, but there’s another difficulty. One of my cousins does so, but the effect on him has not made my father like it the better—and—and to tell the truth—” he half mumbled, “it makes me doubt—”
“The effect on his faith?”
“Yes.”