ndle and keys drop to the floor together,
and turned a face blanched with horror and dismay upon his friend. There
was no disguising the fearful fact--Pliny had been drinking, and even
then did not know in the least what he was about, or what was expected
from him. Removed by just a flight of stairs from his father's corpse,
having the charge of his mother on one side, and his young sister on the
other, he yet had forgotten it all, and lost himself in rum. Poor,
wretched Pliny! Poor Theodore as well! Which way should he turn? What do
or say next? How could he help yielding to utter despair? There were
circumstances about it that he did not know of; he knew nothing yet
about that bottle of wine, nor how Pliny had trembled before it; how he
had walked his floor and struggled with the evil spirit; how he had even
dropped upon his knees and tried to pray for strength; how he had even
lain down at last, considering the tempter vanquished; how it was not
until he was called toward morning to minister to his mother's needs,
and she had said, as she set down the wine-glass:

"How deathly pale you look, Pliny! Take a swallow of wine; it will
strengthen you, and we all need to keep up our strength for this fearful
day. Just try it, dear--I know it will help you!"

Then, indeed, had Pliny's courage failed him; he took the glass from his
mother's offering hand, and drained its contents. After that you might
as soon have tried to chain a tiger with a silken thread as to save
Pliny when once that awful appetite had been again aroused. Wine was as
nothing to him, but he was in a regularly licensed hotel, and there was
plenty of liquid fire displayed in a respectable and proper manner in
the bar-room. Thither he went, and speedily put himself in such a state
that he whistled and yelled and sang while his father's coffin was
being carried down stairs.

Now, what was Theodore to do? He flung himself into a chair opposite his
bed, where Pliny had just sense enough left to throw himself, and tried
to think. Dora first--this knowledge, or if that were not possible, at
least this sight, must be spared her. But there was no time to spare--he
resolutely put down the heavy bitter feelings at his heart, and thought
hard and fast. Then he hastened down stairs. "I want two carriages
instead of one," he said to the landlord, who long ere this had felt a
dawning of the importance and wealth of this company that he was
entertaining, and was all att