"I wish to know what vocation you think I am suited for?"

"I wish to know what vocation you think I am suited for?"

I spoke collectively. My mother gave a little start, looked quickly at my stepfather, gave a little sigh, and remained silent.

I spoke collectively. My mother gave a little start, looked quickly at my stepfather, gave a little sigh, and remained silent.

My stepfather smiled a trifle grimly, he too did not speak. Mr. Neville, however, answered me.

My stepfather smiled a trifle grimly, he too did not speak. Mr. Neville, however, answered me.

"What do you yourself feel inclined for?" he asked.

"What do you yourself feel inclined for?" he asked.

"I hardly know. You see, I have never thought much about it until lately; but it seems to me, that now I have left school, I ought to do something to be independent."

"I hardly know. You see, I have never thought much about it until lately; but it seems to me, that now I have left school, I ought to do something to be independent."

"There is no need of that, Victor," said my stepfather.  "Would you not be content to stay here, and wait for a little?"

"There is no need of that, Victor," said my stepfather.  "Would you not be content to stay here, and wait for a little?"

"If I did, it would prevent my going to Sandhurst."

"If I did, it would prevent my going to Sandhurst."

"Aha! that was in your mind then. I rather suspected it. Rupert's reports, eh?"

"Aha! that was in your mind then. I rather suspected it. Rupert's reports, eh?"

"Yes," I said.  "It seems a nice life, and I might do well as a soldier; what do you think?"

"Yes," I said.  "It seems a nice life, and I might do well as a soldier; what do you think?"

My mother leaned forward.

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