"Oh, the dooce!" ejaculated uncle George.

"To the which end," I proceeded, "I propose to remove myself for a
while--let us say for six months or thereabouts--on a condition."

"Remove yourself, nephew?" repeated uncle Jervas, peering at me a
little more narrowly. "Pray where?"

"Anywhere, sir. I shall follow the wind, tramp the roads, consort with
all and sundry, open the book of Life and endeavour to learn of man by
man himself."

"Very fine!" said my uncle Jervas,--"and damned foolish!"

"In a word," I continued, "I propose to follow your very excellent
advice, Uncle Jervas, and go out into the world to find my manhood if
I can! That was your phrase, I think?"

"Ah, and when, may I ask?"

"At once, sir. But, as I said before--on a condition."

"Hum!" quoth my uncle Jervas, dropping his glass to tenderly stroke
his somewhat too prominent chin.

"And might we humbly venture to enquire as to the condition?"

"Merely this, sir; so soon as Aunt Julia is freed of her incubus--so
soon as I am gone--you will see to it she is not lonely. You will woo
her, beginning at once, both together or turn about, because I would