wool. His mother's over-much
care ought to have killed him; but he had inherited from her a fine
physique, and the lad was large-limbed, healthy, and well grown.

And this vigilant supervision was prolonged far beyond the time when
youths are emancipated usually from their mother's control. Long after
he had left college, and was launched out upon the world, she kept
her hands upon the reins, ruling him with a sharp bit, and driving him
the road she decided it was best for him to go. Mrs. Purling had grown
more and more imperious with advancing years, impatient of
contradiction, self-satisfied, very positive that everything she did
was right. She could not brook opposition to her wishes. Those who
dared to thwart her must do it at their peril; no nature but one
entirely subservient would be likely to continue permanently in accord
with hers; and it was easy to predict troubles in the future between
mother and son unless he yielded always a complete and docile
submission to her will.

For a long time Harold wore his chains without a murmur. Obedient
deference had been a habit with him from childhood, and, however
irksome and galling the slavery, it was not until he had made
practical acquaintance with the actual value of the life she wished
him to lead that there arose in him a disposition to rebel. Mrs.
Purling had all along been chafed with the notion that she did not
enjoy that social distinction to which as a wealthy woman she
considered herself entitled. In her own estimation she ranked very
high; but the best families of the neighbourhood did not accept her
valuation. Some went so far as to call her a vulgar old snob; and
"snobbish," as we understand the word, she certainly was. She
worshipped rank; and it was a very sore point with her that she was
not freely admitted into the best society of the county in which she
lived. She looked to Harold to redress her wrongs. Where she failed, a
handsome young fellow, of engaging presence and heir to a fine estate,
must assuredly succeed. He might, if he chose, be acceptable anywhere.
There was no limit to her dreams. He might mate with a duke's
daughter; and after such an alliance--who would presume to question
the social rights of the Purlings?

It was therefore her chief and greatest desire to make a man of
fashion of her son. Her purse was long--he might dip into it as deep
as he pleased. Let him but take his proper position, on an equality
with the noblest and best