Mr. Gilbert rubbed his chin, and looked up at the picture that hung on the wall over the lounge.
"I don't know whether you will be kept so very busy or not," said he, to himself. "It is my opinion that if you give your rascally relatives full swing, you will have very little stock to take care of."
But Mr. Gilbert did not give utterance to this opinion. He saw very plainly that the boy was opposed to taking any legal action against his uncle, and he was determined that he would not try to influence him in the matter. He had given his advice simply because George had asked him for it, and the boy was quite at liberty to do as he pleased about following it.
"What course have you marked out for yourself?" added Mr. Gilbert, aloud.
"I thought I would leave Texas for a year or two (you know you told me that I would be safer anywhere in the world than I am here) and go into business," replied George.
"Have you any idea what it will be?"
"No, sir; I have not."
"Neither have I. A boy who has spent most of his life in the saddle, or in camp taking care of cattle, wouldn't make a very good clerk—at least I shouldn't want such a one, if I were a merchant—and your schooling hasn't fitted you for anything else."
"I can keep a set of books," said George, with some dignity.
"But you couldn't stand the confinement. You are not accustomed to it. You will want some active, out-of-door occupation."