I never wrote a letter that cost me such an agony of labour.

How feverishly I read and re-read what I had written! What panics I got into about the spelling of "situation," and the number of l's in "ability"! How carefully I rubbed out the pencil- lines I had ruled, and how many times I repented I had not put a "most" before the "obediently"! Many letters like that, thought I, would shorten my life perceptibly.

At last it was done, and when my uncle came in I showed it to him with fear and trembling, and watched his face anxiously as he read it.
"Humph!" said he, looking at me, "and suppose you do get the place, you won't stick to it." "Oh yes, I will," said I; "I'll work hard and get on." "You'd better," said my uncle, "for you'll have only yourself to depend on." I posted my letter, and the next few days seemed interminable.

Whenever I spoke about the subject to my uncle he took care not to encourage me over much.

And yet I fancied, gruff as he was, he was not wholly displeased at my "cheek" in answering Merrett, Barnacle, and Company's advertisement.
"Successful!" growled he.