give Cloudy a fair start in life, and for the
first time condescended to use his influence with "the Department" to
procure a favor in the shape of a midshipman's warrant for Cloudesley
Mornington.

In the meantime old Mr. Willcoxen was very gradually sinking into the
imbecility natural to his advanced age; and his fascinating grandson was
gaining some ascendancy over his mind. Year by year this influence
increased, though it must be admitted that Thurston's conquest over his
grandfather's whims was as slow as that of the Hollanders in winning the
land from the sea.

However, the old man--now that Cloudy was provided for and off his
hands--lent a more willing ear to the petition of Thurston to be
permitted to continue his education by a course of studies at a German
university, and afterward by a tour of the Eastern continent.

Thurston's absence was prolonged much beyond the original intention, as
has been related; he spent two years at the university, two in travel,
and nearly two in the city of Paris.

His grandfather would certainly never have consented to this prolonged
absence, had it been at his own cost; but the expenses were met by
advances upon Thurston's own small patrimony.

And, in fact, when at last the young gentleman returned to his native
country, it was because his property was nearly exhausted, and his
remittances were small, few and far between, grudgingly sent, and about
to be stopped. Therefore nearly penniless, but perfectly free from the
smallest debt or degradation--elegant, accomplished, fastidious, yet
truthful, generous, gallant and aspiring--Thurston left the elegant
salons and exciting scenes of Paris for the comparative dullness and
dreariness of his native place and his grandfather's house.

He had reached his legal majority just before leaving Paris, and soon
after his arrival at home he was appointed trustee of poor Fanny
Laurie's property.

His first act was to visit Fanny in the distant asylum in which she was
confined, and ascertain her real condition. And having heard her
pronounced incurable, though perfectly harmless, he determined to
release her from the confinement of the asylum, and to bring her home
to her native county, where, among the woods and hills and streams, she
might find at once that freedom, space and solitude so desired by the
heart-sick or brain-sick, and where also his own care might avail her.

Old Mr. Willcoxen, far from offering opposition to this pl