esults of it; how, when he had once acquired bad habits,
he would find it nearly impossible to break with them; how he would
be enticed into disreputable places, and a host of other
admonishments.

Tom did not answer; he felt culpable, but not repentant. He did not
tell his father that this same evening he had entered a public-house
for the first time.

The days went by. Mr. Soher and his spouse continued to attend to
their meetings and their son continued to go out, returning boldly
after his parents had come in.

One evening, he came in drunk. Then his father became really
alarmed. He felt that he had not done towards his son all that he
might have done.

This did not, however, make him remain at home.

"I must attend to my Master's work," he would say. Once, he took his
son in the parlour, and after having exhorted him to turn a new leaf
he lifted up his voice in prayer. But the son continued to drink and
the father to pray, while the mother did as much as she could to
shield her dear boy.

Tom had neither the force of will, nor the desire to amend. His home
was so dull; there was nothing about it which attracted him; he did
not care at all for the mother who tried to screen his faults. She
was so narrow minded; always speaking ill of everyone. She knew they
were slowly sinking towards bankruptcy, and it was a consolation to
her to imagine others in the same position. She saw other people's
defects as if through a microscope.

Foolish woman. Even as thou art scandalizing others, thine own
nature is being abased, whilst those whom thou dost backbite remain
the same.

One glance at the daughter. She was taller and fairer than her
mother. Her character was the same as her mother's. Alas! under
such tutorship, how could she be expected to be otherwise.

When the time came for Adele to set out to pay her visit to the
"Prenoms," she did so reluctantly. It was not a pleasure to her, it
was a duty. If she did not go, she thought they would think her too
proud. So she made the sacrifice, and went. She determined to show a
bright face and to be as pleasant as she possibly could. She arrived
at the house of her hosts rather late.

Mrs. Soher welcomed her in a piping voice. She wore her everyday
apparel, and that was not of the brightest.

"Come in, my dear; you see, my dear, I have not had time yet to
change clothes, but I'll be ready in a few minutes.

"Sit down, my dear; why are you so late? I thought you wou