said. "You ought to be looking around you. Won't your uncle help you
to buy a partnership?"

"We are on worse terms than ever after this failure. Not he."

"And you're not trying to be on good terms, I suppose?"

"Not I."

"You are a remarkably silly young man. You want balance, Leicester,
you want balance. It would be the making of you to have some serious
purpose in life. You will run against something of the kind soon--
you'll get engaged, perhaps, and then you'll regret your happy-go-
lucky ways." He fumbled amongst a pile of correspondence and drew out
a letter. "Now, look here, I was thinking of you only a few moments
ago. Here's a letter from a man who--who--where is it?--Ah, yes--If
you could raise 400 pounds by the time you are qualified I could put
you on to a splendid thing."

"Not the remotest chance," said George. "The serious purpose must
wait. I--"

The Dean waved a hand that asked silence; consulted the letter. "This
is from a man in practice at a place called Runnygate--one of these
rising seaside resorts--Hampshire--great friend of mine. He's got
money, and he's going to chuck it--doesn't suit his wife. I told him
I'd find a purchaser if he would leave it with me. Merely nominal--
only 400 pounds. He says that in a year or so there'll be a small
fortune in the practice, because a company is taking the place over to
develop it. You shall have first refusal. Come now, pull yourself