“Read for the bar?”
“Yes, read for the bar: become a barrister; and I shall work hard to win a name.”
“But the school, Luke—the training college. It is not honest to take advantage of their teaching, gain all you can, and then take to some other career.”
“You think that?” he said, smiling. “Yes, of course,” she said, indignantly. “The principal at Westminster spoke very warmly about two of the students giving up their schools directly, and taking situations as governesses in good families.”
“I quite agree with her,” said Luke, quietly; “and I have appraised the cost to the institution at fifty pounds. That sum I feel bound to send. It is quite as much as so bad a master as I should have turned out is worth.”
“Oh, Luke, that is nonsense,” she cried, as she looked proudly in his face.
“Nay,” he said, “it is truth. And now listen to me. This has all been very sudden.”
“Yes, and you never said a word to me.”
“I came and told you as soon as I knew,” retorted Luke, firmly. “And now I say once more this has been very sudden, but it is irrevocably in obedience to your uncle’s wishes. I shall exact no promises from you, tie you down in no way, but go away in perfect faith that in a few years as the reward of my hard struggle, and when I can go and say to your uncle, ‘See, here, I can command the income you said that I ought to have!’ you will be my little wife.”
“But must you go away, Luke?” she said, with a pitiful look in her eyes.