I believe Robert Moncton felt a malicious pleasure in humbling me in the eyes of his people.
My uncle had fulfilled his promise, and I had been articled to him when I completed my fourteenth year; and I now eagerly looked forward to my majority, when I should be free to quit his employ, and seek a living in the world.
My time had been so completely engaged in copying law papers, that I had not been able to pay much attention to the higher branches of the profession; and when night came, and I was at length released from the desk, I was so over-powered by fatigue that I felt no inclination to curtail the blessed hours of sleep by reading dull law books.

Yet, upon this all-important knowledge, which I was neglecting, rested my chance of independence.
My cousin Theophilus was pursuing his studies at Oxford, and rarely visited home, but spent his vacations with some wealthy relatives in Yorkshire.

This was a happy time for me; for of all my many trials his presence was the greatest.

Even Mr.Moncton was more civil to me in the absence of his hopeful heir.
Thus time glided on until I was twenty years of age, and full six feet in height, and I could no longer wear the cast-off suits of my cousin.
Mr.Moncton, in common decency, was at length obliged to order my clothes of his tailor; but he took good care that they should be of the coarsest description, and of the most unfashionable cut.

The first suit which was made expressly for me, ridiculous as it must appear to my readers, gave me infinite satisfaction.