r you might soon be a
beggar, for there is no saying what debts he might, in his madness, be
guilty of. He has already been dismissed from the magistracy by the
lord lieutenant, in consequence of his haranguing the discontented
peasantry, and, I may say, exciting them to acts of violence and
insubordination. He has been seen dancing and hurrahing round a stack
fired by an incendiary. He has turned away his keepers, and allowed all
poachers to go over the manor. In short, he is not in his senses; and,
although I am far from advising coercive measures, I do consider that it
is absolutely necessary that you should immediately return home and look
after what will one day be your property. You have no occasion to
follow the profession with eight thousand pounds per annum. You have
distinguished yourself--now make room for those who require it for their
subsistence. God bless you. I shall soon hope to shake hands with you.

"Yours most truly:--

"G. Middleton."

There was matter for deep reflection in these two letters, and Jack
never felt before how much his father had been in the wrong. That he
had gradually been weaned from his ideas was true, but still he had, to
a certain degree, clung to them, as we do to a habit; but now he felt
that his eyes were opened; the silly, almost unfeeling, letter of his
father upon the occasion of his mother's death opened his eyes. For a
long while Jack was in a melancholy meditation, and then, casting his
eyes upon his watch, he perceived that it was almost dinner-time. That
he could eat his dinner was certain, and he scorned to pretend to feel
what he did not. He therefore dressed himself and went down, grave, it
is true, but not in tears. He spoke little at dinner, and retired as
soon as it was over, presenting his two letters to the Governor, and
asking his advice for the next morning. Gascoigne followed him, and to
him he confided his trouble; and Ned, finding that Jack was very
low-spirited, consoled him to the best of his power, and brought a
bottle of wine which he procured from the butler. Before they retired
to bed, Jack had given his ideas to his friend, which were approved of,
and wishing him a good-night, he threw himself into bed, and was soon
fast asleep.

"One thing is certain, my good fellow," observed the Governor to our
hero, as he gave him back his letters at the breakfast table the next
morning; "that your father is as mad as a March hare. I agree wi