He endeavoured to confine himself to George's prospects, as to which he expressed himself thoroughly pleased.

'You see,' said he, 'I am so strong of my years, that if you wished for my shoes, there is no knowing how long you might be kept waiting.' 'It couldn't have been too long,' said George.
'Ah well, I don't believe you would have been impatient to put the old fellow under the sod.

But I should have been impatient, I should have been unhappy.

You might have had the woods, to be sure; but it's hardly enough of a business alone.

Besides, a young man is always more his own master away from his father.