His life there had not been an unpleasant one, but he knew that he should find it terribly dull, after the freedom and liberty he had enjoyed in Venice.

He had never, however, even to himself, indulged the idea that any other career, save that of his father, could be his; and had regarded it as a matter of course that, some day, he would take his place in the shop in Cheapside.
Now that it was suddenly presented to him as something which would shortly take place, a feeling of repugnance towards the life came over him.

Not that he dreamt for a moment of trying to induce his father to allow him to seek some other calling.

He had been always taught to consider the position of a trader of good standing, of the city of London, as one of the most desirable possible.

The line between the noble and the citizen was so strongly marked that no one thought of overstepping it.