r thumb--but, by
the Lord Harry, he would have no more humbug--seized a glass in one hand
and the bottle in the other, and never rested till he had drunk it dry.
Alarming symptoms were the immediate result of this 'imprudence,' as she
mildly termed it--symptoms which had rather increased than diminished
since; and this was the cause of her delay in writing to her brother.
Every former feature of his malady had returned with augmented virulence:
the slight external wound, half healed, had broken out afresh; internal
inflammation had taken place, which might terminate fatally if not soon
removed. Of course, the wretched sufferer's temper was not improved by
this calamity--in fact, I suspect it was well nigh insupportable, though
his kind nurse did not complain; but she said she had been obliged at
last to give her son in charge to Esther Hargrave, as her presence was so
constantly required in the sick-room that she could not possibly attend
to him herself; and though the child had begged to be allowed to continue
with her there, and to help her to nurse his papa, and though she had no
doubt he would have been very good and quiet, she could not think of
subjecting his young and tender feelings to the sight of so much
suffering, or of allowing him to witness his father's impatience, or hear
the dreadful language he was wont to use in his paroxysms of pain or
irritation.

The latter (continued she) most deeply regrets the step that has
occasioned his relapse; but, as usual, he throws the blame upon me. If I
had reasoned with him like a rational creature, he says, it never would
have happened; but to be treated like a baby or a fool was enough to put
any man past his patience, and drive him to assert his independence even
at the sacrifice of his own interest. He forgets how often I had
reasoned him 'past his patience' before. He appears to be sensible of
his danger; but nothing can induce him to behold it in the proper light.
The other night, while I was waiting on him, and just as I had brought
him a draught to assuage his burning thirst, he observed, with a return
of his former sarcastic bitterness, 'Yes, you're mighty attentive now! I
suppose there's nothing you wouldn't do for me now?'

'You know,' said I, a little surprised at his manner, 'that I am willing
to do anything I can to relieve you.'

'Yes, now, my immaculate angel; but when once you have secured your
reward, and find yourself safe in heaven, and me how