I little thought a year ago that I should ever feel towards you as I do now.

I felt a foolish, boyish resentment at the enstrangement between you and my father, but now I am wiser, I see the reason of it.

I know how impossible it would be to combine the social duties of a man in your position with continued intimate relations with your old home.

The impossibility of it even now hampers me, uncle, and I feel that it will be well for me to break away from the old surroundings if I am ever to make my way up the ladder of life.

Your generous intentions towards me smooth this difficulty, and I can only thank you again, uncle, from my heart.