Cashel Byrons Profession | Page 2

of his career as a student. He
is now nearly seventeen; and he has so little inclination for study that I
doubt whether he could pass the examination necessary to entering one
of the universities. You probably wish him to take a degree before he
chooses a profession."
"Yes, of course," said the lady, vaguely, evidently assenting to the
doctor's remark rather than expressing a conviction of her own. "What
profession would you advise for him? You know so much better than
I."
"Hum!" said Dr. Moncrief, puzzled. "That would doubtless depend to
some extent on his own taste--"
"Not at all," said the lady, interrupting him with vivacity. "What does
he know about the world, poor boy? His own taste is sure to be
something ridiculous. Very likely he would want to go on the stage,
like me."
"Oh! Then you would not encourage any tendency of that sort?"
"Most decidedly not. I hope he has no such idea."
"Not that I am aware of. He shows so little ambition to excel in any
particular branch that I should say his choice of a profession may be
best determined by his parents. I am, of course, ignorant whether his

relatives possess influence likely to be of use to him. That is often the
chief point to be considered, particularly in cases like your son's, where
no special aptitude manifests itself."
"I am the only relative he ever had, poor fellow," said the lady, with a
pensive smile. Then, seeing an expression of astonishment on the
doctor's face, she added, quickly, "They are all dead."
"Dear me!"
"However," she continued, "I have no doubt I can make plenty of
interest for him. But it is difficult to get anything nowadays without
passing competitive examinations. He really must work. If he is lazy he
ought to be punished."
The doctor looked perplexed. "The fact is," he said, "your son can
hardly be dealt with as a child any longer. He is still quite a boy in his
habits and ideas; but physically he is rapidly springing up into a young
man. That reminds me of another point on which I will ask you to
speak earnestly to him. I must tell you that he has attained some
distinction among his school-fellows here as an athlete. Within due
bounds I do not discourage bodily exercises: they are a recognized part
of our system. But I am sorry to say that Cashel has not escaped that
tendency to violence which sometimes results from the possession of
unusual strength and dexterity. He actually fought with one of the
village youths in the main street of Panley some months ago. The
matter did not come to my ears immediately; and, when it did, I
allowed it to pass unnoticed, as he had interfered, it seems, to protect
one of the smaller boys. Unfortunately he was guilty of a much more
serious fault a little later. He and a companion of his had obtained leave
from me to walk to Panley Abbey together. I afterwards found that their
real object was to witness a prize-fight that took place--illegally, of
course--on the common. Apart from the deception practised, I think the
taste they betrayed a dangerous one; and I felt bound to punish them by
a severe imposition, and restriction to the grounds for six weeks. I do
not hold, however, that everything has been done in these cases when a
boy has been punished. I set a high value on a mother's influence for
softening the natural roughness of boys."

"I don't think he minds what I say to him in the least," said the lady,
with a sympathetic air, as if she pitied the doctor in a matter that chiefly
concerned him. "I will speak to him about it, of course. Fighting is an
unbearable habit. His father's people were always fighting; and they
never did any good in the world."
"If you will be so kind. There are just the three points: the necessity for
greater--much greater--application to his studies; a word to him on the
subject of rough habits; and to sound him as to his choice of a career. I
agree with you in not attaching much importance to his ideas on that
subject as yet. Still, even a boyish fancy may be turned to account in
rousing the energies of a lad."
"Quite so," assented the lady. "I will certainly give him a lecture."
The doctor looked at her mistrustfully, thinking perhaps that she herself
would be the better for a lecture on her duties as a mother. But he did
not dare to tell her so; indeed, having a prejudice to the effect that
actresses were deficient in natural feeling, he doubted the use of daring.
He also feared that the subject