Sohefellawayfromalloldfriendsexceptmyselfandthreeorfouroldintimatesofmyown，whowereassuretotaketohimashetothem，andwholikemyselfenjoyedgettingholdofayoungfreshmind。Ernestattendedtothekeepingofmyaccountbookswhenevertherewasanythingwhichcouldpossiblybeattendedto，whichthereseldomwas，andspentthegreaterpartoftherestofhistimeinaddingtothemanynotesandtentativeessayswhichhadalreadyaccumulatedinhisportfolios。Anyonewhowasusedtowritingcouldseeataglancethatliteraturewashisnaturaldevelopment，andI
waspleasedatseeinghimsettledowntoitsospontaneously。Iwaslesspleased，however，toobservethathewouldstilloccupyhimselfwithnonebutthemostserious，Ihadalmostsaidsolemn，subjects，justashenevercaredaboutanybutthemostseriouskindofmusic。
IsaidtohimonedaythattheveryslenderrewardwhichGodhadattachedtothepursuitofseriousinquirywasasufficientproofthatHedisapprovedofit，oratanyratethatHedidnotsetmuchstorebyitnorwishtoencourageit。
Hesaid：“Oh，don’ttalkaboutrewards。LookatMilton，whoonlygot5poundsfor’ParadiseLost。’“
“Andagreatdealtoomuch。”Irejoinedpromptly。“Iwouldhavegivenhimtwiceasmuchmyselfnottohavewrittenitatall。”