in the world than any of your brothers; for wits are always _unlucky_:
sharp-sighted enough to every thing else, but blind, stone blind to their
own interest. Wit is folly, when one is talking of serious business."

"Well, my dear father, be _agreeable_, and I will not be witty.--In fact,
in downright earnest, the sum total of the business is, that I have a great
desire to go into the army, and I entreat you to procure me a commission."

"Then the sum total of the business is, that I will not; for I cannot
afford to purchase you a commission, and to maintain you in the army--"

"But by using interest, perhaps, sir," said Buckhurst.

"My interest must be all for your brother John; for I tell you I can do
nothing else for him but put him into the army.--He's a dunce.--I must get
him a commission, and then I have done with him."

"I wish I were a dunce," said Buckhurst, sighing; "for then I might go into
the army--instead of being forced into the church."

"There's no force upon your inclinations, Buckhurst," said his father in a
soft tone; "I only show you that it is impossible I should maintain you in
the army, and, therefore, beg you to put the army out of your head. And I
don't well see what else you could do. You have not application enough for
the bar, nor have I any friends among the attorneys except Sharpe, who,
between you and me, might take your dinners, and leave you without a brief
afterwards. You have talents, I grant," continued the commissioner, "and
if you had but application, and if your uncle the judge had not died last
year--"