hiskey, Ted--it always makes me
sleep."

Ted had been for some minutes evidently ruminating.

"He is a good boy," said he; "but at any rate our hands is in the lion's
mouth, an' its not our policy to vex him."

Hycy, on his way home, felt himself in better spirits than he had.
been in for some time. The arrangement with young Clinton gave him
considerable satisfaction, and he now resolved to lose as little time as
possible in executing his own part of the contract. Clinton himself,
who was a thoughtless young fellow, fond of pleasure, and with no great
relish for business, was guided almost in everything by his knowing old
uncle the gauger, on whom he and his sister depended, and who looked
upon him as unfit for any kind of employment unless the management of a
cheap farm, such as would necessarily draw his attention from habits of
idleness and expense to those of application and industry. Being aware,
from common report, that M'Mahon's extensive and improvable holding in
Ahadarra was out of lease, he immediately set his heart upon it, but
knew not exactly in what manner to accomplish his designs, in securing
it if he could, without exposing himself to suspicion and a good deal of
obloquy besides. Old Clinton was one of those sheer and hardened sinners
who, without either scruple or remorse, yet think it worth while to keep
as good terms with the world as they can, whilst at the same time
they laugh and despise in their hearts all that is worthy of honor and
respect in it. His nephew, however, had some positive good, and not a
little of that light and reckless profligacy which is often mistaken for
heart and spirit. Hycy and he, though not very long acquainted, were, at
the present period of our narrative, on very intimate terms. They had,
it is true, a good many propensities in common, and these were what
constituted the bond between them. They were companions but not friends;
and Clinton saw many things in Hycy which disgusted him exceedingly, and
scarcely anything more than the contemptuous manner in which he spoke of
and treated his parents. He liked his society, because he was lively
and without any of that high and honorable moral feeling which is often
troublesome to a companion who, like Clinton, was not possessed of much
scruple while engaged in the pursuit of pleasures. On this account,
therefore, we say that he relished his society, but could neither
respect nor esteem him.

On the following morning at br