follies raised, rather than
sunk him in my estimation; but I was sadly disappointed at the general
terms in which they were revealed. I wanted to know every event of his
private life, and this abridgment was very tantalizing.

While I was pondering these things in my heart, the pen he had grasped
so tightly was flung to some distance, and he raised his fine eyes to
my face.

"Thank God! Geoffrey; I have not as yet lost the faculty of
feeling--that I can see and deplore the errors of the past. When I
think what I was, what I am, and what I might have been, it brings a
cloud over my mind which often dissolves in tears. This is the weakness
of human nature. But the years so uselessly wasted rise up in dread
array against me, and the flood-gates of the soul are broken up by
bitter and remorseful regrets. But see," he exclaimed, dashing the
thickening mist from his eyes, and resuming his peculiarly benevolent
smile: "the dark cloud has passed, and George is himself again."

"You are happier than I. You can smile through your tears," I cried,
regarding his April face with surprise.

"And so would you, Geoffrey, if, like me, you had brought your passions
under the subjection of reason."

"It is no easy task, George, to storm a city, when your own subjects
defend the walls, and at every attack drive you back with your own
weapons, into the trenches. I will, however, commence the attack, by
striving to forget that there is a world beyond these gloomy walls, in
whose busy scenes I am forbidden to mingle."

"Valiantly resolved, Geoffrey. But how comes it, that you did not tell
me the news this morning?"

"News--what news?"

"Your cousin Theophilus returned last night."

"The devil he did! That's everything but good news to me. But are you
sure the news is true?"

"My landlady is sister to Mr. Moncton's housekeeper. I had my
information from her. She tells me that the father and son are on very
bad terms."

"I have seldom heard Mr. Moncton mention him of late. I wonder we have
not seen him in the office. He generally pays us an early visit to show
off his fine clothes, and to insult me."

"Talk of his satanic majesty, Geoff. You know the rest. Here comes the
heir of the house of Moncton."

"He does not belong to the elder branch," I cried, fiercely. "Poor as I
am, I consider myself the head of the house, and one of these days will
dispute his right to that title."

"Tush!" said George, resuming his pen, "you are