nd and said, "I
can--I can take it from you, sir;" saying which his face flushed, and
his eyes filled, for the first time; whereupon the father burst into
a passion of tears, and embraced the boy and kissed him, besought and
prayed him to be rebellious no more--flung the whip away from him and
swore, come what would, he would never strike him again. The quarrel was
the means of a great and happy reconciliation. The three dined together
in Sarah's cottage. Perhaps the father would have liked to walk that
evening in the lanes and fields where he had wandered as a young
fellow: where he had first courted and first kissed the young girl he
loved--poor child--who had waited for him so faithfully and fondly,
who had passed so many a day of patient want and meek expectance, to be
repaid by such a scant holiday and brief fruition.

Mrs. Newcome never made the slightest allusion to Tom's absence after
his return, but was quite gentle and affectionate with him, and that
night read the parable of the Prodigal in a very low and quiet voice.

This, however, was only a temporary truce. War very soon broke out again
between the impetuous lad and his rigid domineering mother-in-law.
It was not that he was very bad, or she perhaps more stern than other
ladies, but the two could not agree. The boy sulked and was miserable
at home. He fell to drinking with the grooms in the stables. I think
he went to Epsom races, and was discovered after that act of rebellion.
Driving from a most interesting breakfast at Roehampton (where a
delightful Hebrew convert had spoken, oh! so graciously!), Mrs.
Newcome--in her state-carriage, with her bay horses--met Tom, her
son-in-law, in a tax-cart, excited by drink, and accompanied by all
sorts of friends, male and female. John the black man was bidden to
descend from the carriage and bring him to Mrs. Newcome. He came; his
voice was thick with drink. He laughed wildly: he described a fight at
which he had been present. It was not possible that such a castaway
as this should continue in a house where her two little cherubs were
growing up in innocence and grace.

The boy had a great fancy for India; and Orme's History, containing the
exploits of Clive and Lawrence, was his favourite book of all in his
father's library. Being offered a writership, he scouted the idea of a
civil appointment, and would be contented with nothing but a uniform. A
cavalry cadetship was procured for Thomas Newcome; and the young