Cashel Byron's Profession

"Certainly. With the greatest pleasure," exclaimed the doctor,

confusing himself by an inept attempt at gallantry. "He shall stay

as long as you please. But"--here the doctor became grave

again--"you cannot too strongly urge upon him the importance of hard

work at the present time, which may be said to be the turning-point

of his career as a student. He is now nearly seventeen; and he has

so little inclination for study that I doubt whether he could pass

the examination necessary to entering one of the universities. You

probably wish him to take a degree before he chooses a profession."

"Yes, of course," said the lady, vaguely, evidently assenting to the

doctor's remark rather than expressing a conviction of her own.

"What profession would you advise for him? You know so much better

than I."

"Hum!" said Dr. Moncrief, puzzled. "That would doubtless depend to

some extent on his own taste--"

"Not at all," said the lady, interrupting him with vivacity. "What

does he know about the world, poor boy? His own taste is sure to be

something ridiculous. Very likely he would want to go on the stage,

like me."

"Oh! Then you would not encourage any tendency of that sort?"

"Most decidedly not. I hope he has no such idea."

"Not that I am aware of. He shows so little ambition to excel in any

particular branch that I should say his choice of a profession may

be best determined by his parents. I am, of course, ignorant whether

his relatives possess influence likely to be of use to him. That is

often the chief point to be considered, particularly in cases like

your son's, where no special aptitude manifests itself."

"I am the only relative he ever had, poor fellow," said the lady,

with a pensive smile. Then, seeing an expression of astonishment on

the doctor's face, she added, quickly, "They are all dead."

"Dear me!"

"However," she continued, "I have no doubt I can make plenty of

interest for him. But it is difficult to get anything nowadays

without passing competitive examinations. He really must work. If he

is lazy he ought to be punished."

The doctor looked perplexed. "The fact is," he said, "your son can

hardly be dealt with as a child any longer. He is still quite a boy

in his habits and ideas; but physically he is rapidly springing up

into a young man. That reminds me of another point on which I will

ask you to speak earnestly to him. I must tell you that he has

attained some distinction among his school-fellows here as an

athlete. Within due bounds I do not discourage bodily exercises:

they are a recognized part of our system. But I am sorry to say that

Cashel has not escaped that tendency to violence which sometimes

results from the possession of unusual strength and dexterity. He

actually fought with one of the village youths in the main street of

Panley some months ago. The matter did not come to my ears

immediately; and, when it did, I allowed it to pass unnoticed, as he

had interfered, it seems, to protect one of the smaller boys.

Unfortunately he was guilty of a much more serious fault a little

later. He and a companion of his had obtained leave from me to walk

to Panley Abbey together. I afterwards found that their real object

was to witness a prize-fight that took place--illegally, of

course--on the common. Apart from the deception practised, I think

the taste they betrayed a dangerous one; and I felt bound to punish

them by a severe imposition, and restriction to the grounds for six

weeks. I do not hold, however, that everything has been done in

these cases when a boy has been punished. I set a high value on a

mother's influence for softening the natural roughness of boys."