E-text prepared by Lionel Sear
Joseph Wimble was the only son of an analytical chemist, who, having madeconsiderable profits out of an Invisible Sticking Plaster, sent the boy toCharterhouse and Cambridge in the hope that he would turn out a gentleman.When Joseph left Cambridge his father left business, referred to himselfas Expert, used a couple of letters after his name, and suggested makingthe Grand Tour of Europe together as a finishing touch. 'To talkfamiliarly of Rome and Vienna and Constantinople as though you knew them,'he explained, 'is a useful thing. It helps one with the women, and to behelped by women in life is half the battle.' His ambitions for his sonwere considerable, including above all a suitable marriage. The abruptdestruction of these ambitions, accordingly, was so bitter adisappointment that he felt justified in giving the lad a nominal sum andmentioning that he had better shift for himself. For Joseph marriedsecretly the daughter of a Norfolk corn-chandler, announcing the news tohis father upon the very eve of starting for the Grand Tour.Joseph found himself with £500 and a wife.
Joseph himself was of that placid temperament to which things in life justcame and went apparently without making very deep impressions. He was acareless, indifferent sort of fellow even as a boy, careless ofconsequences, indifferent to results: not irresponsible, yet veryeasy-going. There was no intensity in him; he did not realise things.'Oh, it's much the same to me,' would be his reply to most proposals.'I'd as soon as not.' There was somethi