I thought it was a great pity that Giles forced him to take up law; if he had talent it was surely better for him to be an artist; but Giles and Etta persisted in ignoring his talent.

They called his pictures daubs, and ridiculed his artistic notions.' 'Do you really believe that he would have worked successfully as an artist ?' 'It is difficult for me to judge.

Eric was so young, and had had little training, and then he only painted in a desultory way: as I have told you, he was very idle.

I think if Giles had been more fatherly with him, and had remonstrated with him more gently, and showed him the sense and fitness of things, Eric would have been reasonable; but Etta made so much mischief between them that things only got worse and worse.

Eric was extravagant; he never managed money well, and he got into debt, and that made Giles furious, and when Eric lost his temper--for he was very hot and soon got into a passion--Giles's coolness and hard sneering speeches nearly drove Eric wild.