to his fancies,
and while yet in college was one of the wildest in the class. By his
mother's interposition, he was sent abroad. He came back all the worse
for the year's sojourn, and, young as he was, soon got to be a regular
'man about town.' He lived at home--ostensibly; but he was seldom to be
seen in the house. He had come to entertain very little respect for his
father; for he had a sort of native insight into his character. He
constantly complains of his miserly treatment, though Hiram makes his
son a respectable allowance--more, I think, to be rid of the annoyance
of his repeated and incessant applications, than for any other reason.

'Gus' was a favorite with his mother (I forgot to say she had named him
Augustus Myrtle Meeker, with her husband's full consent), and heavy were
the drafts he made on her purse. This was a point of constant discussion
between Mr. and Mrs. Meeker. It was of no use. The lady continued to
indulge her only son, and her husband to protest against it.

Of late, Gus had been in possession of pretty large sums of money, which
he certainly had not obtained either from his father or mother. And it
was something connected with this circumstance which takes Hiram out
immediately after dinner.

I think it is in place here to say something of Hiram Meeker's domestic
life.

Taking 'Arabella' for just what the reader knows her to be, it is
probable he has made her a better husband than ninety-nine men of a
hundred would have made. True, he is master, in every respect. But this
is just what Arabella requires. She would have been the death of any
ordinary man in a short time. There is not the slightest danger of her
injuring Hiram's prospects of a long life, or of causing him an hour's
uneasiness. To be sure, he is despotic, but he is neither irritable nor
unamiable. Besides, he has a great desire for social position (it aids
in carrying out his plans), in which his wife is of real service. Hiram,
although close and careful in all matters, is not what would be called
penurious. In other words, he makes liberal provision for his household,
while he rules it with rigor; besides, in petty things he has not proved
a tyrant.

On the whole, we repeat our conviction that Arabella has been fortunate
in her husband. To be sure, she is fretful, discontented, peevish,
irritable, cross; but that is her normal condition. At times Hiram has
treated her with severity, but never cruelty. He has borne quietly a