Paradise Garden - The Satirical Narrative of a Great Experiment by George Gibbs
page 39 of 403 (09%)
page 39 of 403 (09%)
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instructions convinced me that such an idea was furthest from John
Benham's thoughts. It remained for me to decide the matter in the best way that I could, for determined I was that Jerry, merely because of the possession of much worldly goods, should not be that bane of humanity and of nations, an idler. At about this period Mr. Ballard the elder came down to Horsham Manor on one of his visits of inspection and inquiry. He brought up the subject of his own accord. "What do you think, Canby, what have you planned about Jerry's future?" I told him that my only ambition, so far, had been to make of Jerry a gentleman and a scholar. "Yes, of course," he nodded. "That's what you are here for. But beyond that?" "Nothing," I replied. "I am following my instructions from Mr. Benham. They go no further than that." He frowned into the fire. "That's all very well as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. Jerry is now eighteen. Do you realize that in three years he comes into possession of five million dollars, an income of over two hundred thousand a year; and that in seven years, at twenty-five, the executors must relinquish the entire estate?" |
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