Valuable rows of books looked down upon the place of torture; and I could hear sparrows chirping in the garden, and my sprightly cousin already banging the piano and pouring forth an acid stream of song from the drawing-room overhead.
It was in these circumstances that, with all brevity of speech and a certain boyish sullenness of manner, looking the while upon the floor, I informed my relatives of my financial situation: the amount I owed Pinkerton; the hopelessness of any maintenance from sculpture; the career offered me in the States; and how, before becoming more beholden to a stranger, I had judged it right to lay the case before my family.
"I am only sorry you did not come to me at first," said Uncle Adam.

"I take the liberty to say it would have been more decent." "I think so too, Uncle Adam," I replied; "but you must bear in mind I was ignorant in what light you might regard my application." "I hope I would never turn my back on my own flesh and blood," he returned with emphasis; but to my anxious ear, with more of temper than affection.

"I could never forget you were my sister's son.

I regard this as a manifest duty.

I have no choice but to accept the entire responsibility of the position you have made." I did not know what else to do but murmur "thank you." "Yes," he pursued, "and there is something providential in the circumstance that you come at the right time.