But when I thought of my mother's distress, I could not face it, and I let my half-formed projects slide again.
Oddly enough, it was Uncle Henry who brought matters to a crisis.

I think my father was disappointed (though he did not blame me) that I secured no warmer a place in Uncle Henry's affections than I did.

Uncle Henry had no children, and if he took a fancy to me and I pleased him, such a career as the Jew-clerk had sketched for me would probably be mine.

This dawned on me by degrees through chance remarks from my father and the more open comments of friends.

For good manners with us were not of a sensitively refined order, and to be clapped on the back with--"Well, Jack, you've got into a good berth, I hear.