When the time came for Edward to leave school, he announced that he had no
intention of taking orders, but meant to become an attorney.

"It's such slow work," said he to his mother. "One toils away for four or
five years, and then one gets a curacy of seventy pounds a-year, and no end
of work to do for the money. Now the work is not much harder in a lawyer's
office, and if one has one's wits about one, there are hundreds and
thousands a-year to be picked up with mighty little trouble."

Mrs. Browne was very sorry for this determination. She had a great desire
to see her son a clergyman, like his father. She did not consider whether
his character was fitted for so sacred an office; she rather thought that
the profession itself, when once assumed, would purify the character; but,
in fact, his fitness or unfitness for holy orders entered little into her
mind. She had a respect for the profession, and his father had belonged to
it.

"I had rather see you a curate at seventy pounds a-year, than an attorney
with seven hundred," replied she. "And you know your father was always
asked to dine everywhere--to places where I know they would not have asked
Mr. Bish, of Woodchester, and he makes his thousand a-year. Besides, Mr.
Buxton has the next presentation to Combehurst, and you would stand a good
chance for your father's sake. And in the mean time you should live here,
if your curacy was any way near."

"I dare say! Catch me burying myself here again. My dear mother, it's a
very respectable place for you and Maggie to live in, and I dare say
you don't find it dull; but the idea of my quietly sitting down here is
something too absurd!"