Any worse decision, so far as my friends were concerned, could not be conceived.  They both remonstrated solemnly, and were deeply touched with what they saw was my impending ruin, especially the ruin of their hopes.  In vain, however, did they attempt to persuade me; my mind was as fixed as the mind of two-and-twenty can be.  Having warned me in terms of severity, they now addressed me in the language of affection, and asked how I could be so headstrong and foolish as to attempt the Bar, at which it was clear that I could only succeed after working about twenty years as a special pleader.

They next set before me, as a terrible warning, my uncle, another brother of my father’s, who had gone to the Bar, and I will not say never had any practice, for I believe he practised a good deal on the Norfolk Broads, and once had a brief at sessions concerning the irremovability of a pauper, which he conducted much to the satisfaction of the pauper, although I believe the solicitor never gave him another brief.

However, our family trio could not go on for ever quarrelling, and at last they made a compromise with me, much to my satisfaction.  My father undertook to allow me a hundred a year for five years, and after that time it was to cease automatically, whether I sank or swam, with this solemn proviso, however, for the soothing of his conscience:  that if I sank my fate was to be upon my own head!  I agreed also to that part of the business, and accepting the terms, started for London.

CHAPTER II.

In my uncle’s office.

I ought to mention, in speaking of my ancestors, that I had a very worthy godfather who was half-brother to my father.  He was connected with a family of great respectability at Royston, in Cambridgeshire, and inherited from them a moderate-sized landed estate.  A portion of this property was a little farm situate at Brampton, in Huntingdonshire, from which village I took the title I now enjoy.

The farm was left, however, to my aunt for life, who lived to a good old age, as most life-tenants do whom you expect to succeed, and I got nothing until it was of no use to me.  When I came into possession I was making a very fair income at the Bar, and the probability is my aunt did me, unconsciously, the greatest kindness she could in keeping me out of it so long.

So much for my ancestors.  About the rest of them I know nothing, except an anecdote or two.

There was one more event in my boyhood which I will mention, because it is historic.  I assisted my father, on my little pony, in proclaiming William IV. on his accession to the throne, and I mention it with the more pride because, having been created a Peer of the Realm by her late gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, I was qualified to assist as a member of the Privy Council at the accession of his present most gracious Majesty, and had the honour to hear him announce himself as King Edward of England by the title of Edward the Seventh!