You don't relish surgery, you say?"
"I can't endure it, uncle."
"But you like farming?"
"Above every other mode of life."
"Very well, I think it's likely I shall have a good farm to put you into
before long."
"Thank you, uncle. You may rest assured that both Maria and myself are
fully sensible of the kindness we have experienced at your hands."
"Small thanks to me for that. Who the devil would I assist, if not my
brother's orphans? It is true, I despise the world, but still we must
make our use of it. I know it consists of only knaves and fools. Now, I
respect the knaves; for if it were'nt for their roguery, the world would
never work; it would stand still and be useless. The fools I despise,
not so much because they are fools, as because they would be knaves if
they could; so that, you see I return again to my favorite principle of
honesty. I am going to Ballymacan on business, so good-bye to you both."
"Uncle," said his nephew, "one word with you before you go."
"What is it?"
"Would you suffer me to offer you a word of advice, and will you excuse
me for taking such a liberty with a man of your experience?"
"Certainly, Harry, and shall always feel thankful to any one that gives
me good advice."
"If this is not good advice, it is at least well intended."
"Let us hear it first, and then we shall judge better.
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