It was, indeed, by no means probable that a late and ungracious compliance with my father's wishes would have reinstated me in the situation which I had lost.

On the contrary, firm and strong of purpose as he himself was, he might rather have been disgusted than conciliated by my tardy and compulsory acquiescence in his desire that I should engage in commerce.

My constitutional obstinacy came also to my aid, and pride whispered how poor a figure I should make, when an airing of four miles from London had blown away resolutions formed during a month's serious deliberation.

Hope, too, that never forsakes the young and hardy, lent her lustre to my future prospects.

My father could not be serious in the sentence of foris-familiation, which he had so unhesitatingly pronounced.