on him, to a degree that would have spoilt
any temper less sweet than my poor young master's, he took the most
violent aversion to him. From the circumstance of his name, and the long
intimacy existing between my lady and her lover, his lordship would not
believe that Master Clinton was his own child; and indeed I must confess
there seemed good ground for his suspicions. Besides this, Master
Clinton took very much after his mother. He had her eyes, hair, and
beautiful features, so that my lord could never see him without being
reminded of his disgrace; therefore whenever the poor young gentleman
came into his presence, he would drive him out with oaths and threats
which rang through the whole house. He could not even bear that
he should have any attendance or respect from the servants, for he
considered him quite as an alien like, and worse than a stranger; and
his lordship's only delight seemed to consist in putting upon him every
possible indignity and affront. But Master Clinton was a high-spirited
young gentleman; and, after having in vain endeavoured to soothe my lord
by compliance and respect, he at last utterly avoided his lordship's
presence."

"He gave up his studies in a great measure, and wandered about the
park and woods all day and sometimes even half the night; his mother's
conduct and his father's unkindness seemed to prey upon his health and
mind, and at last he grew almost as much altered as my lord. From being
one of the merriest boys possible, full of life and spirits, he became
thoughtful and downcast, his step lost its lightness, and his eye all
the fire which used once quite to warm one's heart when one looked at
it; in short, sir, the sins of the mother were visited as much upon the
child as the husband. (Not the least tawny, sir, you see, though it is
so old!)"

"My lord at first seemed to be glad that he now never saw his son, but,
by degrees, I think he missed the pleasure of venting his spleen upon
him; and so he ordered my young master not to stir out without his
leave, and confined him closer than ever to his studies. (Well, sir, if
it were not for this port I could not get out another sentence.)
There used then to be sad scenes between them: my lord was a terribly
passionate man, and said things sharper than a two-edged sword, as the
psalms express it; and though Master Clinton was one of the mildest and
best-tempered boys imaginable, yet he could not at all times curb his
spirit; and, to