His Grace — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

6 HIIS GRACE. sonal affairs and interests were just then in a parlous state; neither honor nor distinction had I achieved ; nor, so far as I could foresee, was there the slightest prospect that, in my case, diligence and conscientious effort would ever be crowned by those rewards. “The long and the short of it, Philip,’’ my Uncle John said to me, as I helped him to struggle into his overcoat before he left the office, “‘is that you are not fitted to take a leading part in a business like ours. Understand me, I am not blaming you; I am merely stating a fact. There are men who are born to be lawyers, and there are other men who, I presume, were born to be something else; though, if you’ll excuse my saying so, I’ll be hanged if I can lay my finger upon the especial purpose for which you were created. What I do know, and what it is better and kinder to tell you at once, is that you were not created to be a solicitor. I have had some experience of you by this time, and I think it only fair to warn you that you may stay here until your hair is gray without much hope of being taken into partnership. I am sorry for it; but necessity has no law, and the law knows no neces- sities, except those imposed by Act of Parliament or by contracts duly signed and attested. Not being an idiot, I never contracted to make you a member of my firm; although I am, of course, aware that that was what you and your mother looked forward to when I advised that you should pass your examinations and promised to find employment for you in the office. Personally, I should have been only too pleased to give you every encouragement: it is no fault of mine, and I daresay itis no fault of yours either, that I am unable to do so. You lack the requisite abilities, Eomichboo im