them if he cast off Clarence, and had to
announce himself publicly as foiled in all his plans and hopes! He could
not face this prospect; he shrank from it as if it had involved actual
bodily pain. The men who would laugh at his failure were men of his own
class, to whom he had bragged at his ease, crowing and exulting over
them, and he felt that he could not face them if all his grand
anticipations collapsed. There was nothing for it but to give in. And on
the other hand this girl Phoebe was a very clever girl, able not only to
save the expense of coaches, but to cram the boy, and keep him up better
than any coach could do. She could make his speeches for him, like
enough, Mr. Copperhead thought, and a great many reasons might be given
to the world why she had been chosen instead of a richer wife for the
golden boy. Golden girls, as a general rule, were not of so much use.
"Fortune ain't worth thinking of in comparison with brains. It was
brains I wanted, and I've bought 'em dear; but I hope I can afford it,"
he almost heard himself saying to an admiring, envious assembly; for Mr.
Copperhead so far deserved his success that he could accept a defeat
when it was necessary, and make the best of it. When he had nearly ended
his walk, and had reached in his thoughts to this point, he met his son,
who was walking up from the Parsonage to No. 6 in the Lane. Clarence
looked cheerful enough as he walked along, whistling under his breath,
towards his love; but when he saw his father, a change came over his
face. Once more his eyelids drooped over his eyes, and those muddy brown
orbs got fixed in dull obstinacy; once more his upper lip shut down
sullen and fast upon the lower. The entire expression of his face
changed. Mr. Copperhead saw this afar off, from the moment his son
perceived him, and the sight gave to all his thinking that force which
reality gives to imagination; the risk he was running became doubly
clear.

"Good morning, Clarence," he said.

"Good morning, sir," responded the other, with lowering brows and
close-shut mouth.

"I suppose you were coming to the George to me? Come along, I've had no
breakfast; and let's hope, my boy, that you're in a better mind than
last night."

"Look here, sir," said Clarence; "you might as well ask one of those
houses to walk with you to the George, and show a better mind. I'm of
one mind, and one only. I'll marry Phoebe Beecham, whether you like it or
not, and no other woman