g creetur," croaked the old woman; "it's a pity he's come
to this. I knowed he were not used to sich a life--more's the shame to
them as led him into it."

Ay, shame to them, indeed! But oh, how sad, how grievous that the young
hand, which might have raised to untainted lips none but those pure
draughts which neither heat the brain nor warp the sense of right,
should ever learn to grasp the cup that gives a passing brightness to
the eye and glitter to the tongue, but clouds at length the intellect,
fires the brain, and leaves a multitude of wretched victims cast ashore
as shattered moral wrecks. To such results, though from the smallest
beginnings, does the drink _tend_ in its very nature. Oh, happy they
who are altogether free from its toils!

The wretched young man stared wildly at his mother.

"Who are you?" he cried. "I don't know you. More brandy--where's the
bottle? `Here's a health to all good lasses; pledge it merrily, fill
your glasses.' Shuffle the cards well; now then, nothing wenture
nothing win. Spades are trumps."

"Oh, my boy, my boy," cried the agonised mother, "can nothing be done
for you? Has a doctor been sent for?" she cried suddenly, turning to
the old woman.

"Doctor!" was the reply. "No, ma'am; who's to pay for a doctor? The
young gent's been and popped all his things for the play and the drink;
and I haven't myself so much as a brass farden to get a mouthful o' meat
with."

"Oh, will any one run for a doctor?" implored the miserable mother.
"Here, my good woman," taking out a shilling, "give this to somebody to
fetch a doctor; quick--oh, don't lose a moment."

"Ay, ay, I'll see about it," mumbled the old woman; "that'll fetch a
doctor quick enough, you may be sure."

She made her way slowly and painfully down the creaking stairs, and
after a while returned.

"Doctor'll be here soon, ma'am, I'll warrant," she said.

Lady Oldfield sat on the box by the bed, watching her son's wild stare
and gesticulations in silent misery.

"I'm glad you've came, ma'am," continued the old woman; "I've had weary
work with the young gentleman. I found him outside the door of the
`Green Dragon' without his coat, and shaking like an aspen. I couldn't
help looking at him, poor soul. I asked him why he didn't go home; he
said he hadn't got no home. I asked him where his friends lived; he
said he hadn't got no friends. I asked him where he lodged; he said he
didn't know. I was a-going to as