Walter made sure of finding him in his study, and was not disappointed. He was seated at his table, writing busily.
"I have been expecting you, my dear fellow," the doctor exclaimed, springing up and holding out both hands. "As you did not write, I knew you would come. Well, and----?" He looked expectantly at the young man for an instant. "Hm!" he went on, "clouds in the sky, I see. Well, well, I expected them. But come, take a cigar, and tell me all about it."
"There's not much to be told. It was very short work, and what will come next I do not know,--which is what troubles me," replied Walter. "At present I am on my way to Bonn to study law."
The doctor silently nodded.
"There would have been entire estrangement from my parents if I had insisted upon my wishes," Walter continued.
"And I think you are quite right in yielding," said his friend. "You owe it to your parents to make an attempt at least to adopt the career in life that they have chosen for you. There must be difficulties to be encountered everywhere. We cannot escape them, whatever freedom of choice may be granted us."
"If I could only get up some small amount of interest in the law," sighed Walter.
"You know nothing about it yet," the doctor replied, seriously. "Reflect, investigate, contemplate the corpus juris in every possible light, and depend upon it you will attain that ideal standpoint which is what you desire, and which will give you all the interest you lack in the study of equity. The struggle will strengthen your mental muscles."
"At present, however, any old skull or bone interests me more than the most complicated legal process," said Walter.
The doctor leaned back in his arm-chair, and puffed forth clouds of smoke.