I suppose you look to succeed your uncle some day ?" was reckoned a friendly familiarity rather than an offensive impertinence.
I learned that my parents had hoped that, as I was his nephew, Uncle Henry would take me as clerk without the usual premium.

Indeed, when my uncle first urged my going to him, he had more than hinted that he should not expect a premium with his brother's son.

But he was fond of his money (of which he had plenty), and when people are that, they are apt to begin to grudge, if there is time, between promise and performance.

Uncle Henry had a whole year in which to think about foregoing two or three hundred pounds, and as it drew to a close, it seemed to worry him to such a degree, that he proposed to take me for half the usual premium instead of completely remitting it; and he said something about my being a stupid sort of boy, and of very little use to him for some time to come.

He said it to justify himself for drawing back, I am quite sure, but it did me no good at home.
My father had plenty of honourable pride, and he would hear of no compromise.