Page 413 - of-human-bondage-

ing?’ Philip put down the book he was reading and leaned
back in his chair.
‘I’ve given up painting,’ he said.
‘Why?’ asked his uncle in astonishment.
‘I don’t think there’s much object in being a second-rate
painter, and I came to the conclusion that I should never be
anything else.’
‘You surprise me. Before you went to Paris you were quite
certain that you were a genius.’
‘I was mistaken,’ said Philip.
‘I should have thought now you’d taken up a profession
you’d have the pride to stick to it. It seems to me that what
you lack is perseverance.’
Philip was a little annoyed that his uncle did not even see
how truly heroic his determination was.
‘A rolling stone gathers no moss,’’ proceeded the clergy-
man. Philip hated that proverb above all, and it seemed to
him perfectly meaningless. His uncle had repeated it often
during the arguments which had preceded his departure
from business. Apparently it recalled that occasion to his
guardian.
‘You’re no longer a boy, you know; you must begin to think
of settling down. First you insist on becoming a chartered
accountant, and then you get tired of that and you want to
become a painter. And now if you please you change your
mind again. It points to...’
He hesitated for a moment to consider what defects of
character exactly it indicated, and Philip finished the sen-
tence.

1 Of Human Bondage