The idea of borrowing from Doubleday occurred to me, but Smith promptly discouraged it.

Besides, I had once asked him for a loan, and he had refused it, on the ground he never lent money to anybody.
"The only thing," said Jack, "is to write home to your uncle." I could scarcely help smiling at the idea.

I knew my uncle better than Jack Smith did, and I might as well hope to get blood out of a stone as expect him to pay for my extravagances in London.
However, Jack was so sure it was the right and only thing to do that I finally consented to sit down and make a clean breast of it, which I did in the following note:-- "Dear Uncle,--I am better now, and back at work.

I am sorry to say, however, I am in a good deal of difficulty about money.

Before my illness I had got into extravagant ways and run into debt.