ip, you will say; but they seemed to
get along very well together. The latter, as you may remember, was a
wild, reckless fellow. He had his good traits, though. There was nothing
mean in his composition, but much that was impulsive and generous. He
never laid up a penny, and was always in debt. It was this unfortunate
habit which had kept him so long at Joslin's. He had got in advance of
his salary, and he would not quit till it was made up. When he left
there, he succeeded in getting a place in a large wine and liquor house;
for Hill's acquaintance was extensive, and in those days of
extraordinary 'drumming,' in which he was a great proficient, his
services were valuable. It was through Hill, as I have said, that Hiram
got his place at Hendly's, and after that he was in the habit of looking
in nearly every day on him toward the close of business hours.

I cannot precisely explain by what species of fascination this poor
fellow was attracted to Meeker. Doubtless it originated in the
triumphant resistance which the latter opposed to Hill's attempt on him
at their first acquaintance, and his complete victory over and
discomfiture of Benjamin Joslin, for whom Hill entertained a supreme
contempt. There was a mystery about the sources of Hiram's power which
completed the charm, and made Hill his willing subject, and afterward
slave.

But what did Hiram want of Hill? That would appear more difficult to
answer. He certainly did want something of him. For he encouraged his
coming often to see him, and talked with him a great deal. He even lent
him occasionally small sums of money. I repeat, what a droll
companionship! Hill, a swearing, drinking, godless scapegrace. Meeker, a
quiet, exemplary, religious, laborious young man.

Perhaps it was the rule by which opposites are attracted to each other.

Perhaps it was something else.

On the whole, I am inclined to think it was something else, on Hiram's
part at least. I believe he acted, with respect to Hill, as he did with
respect to everybody--from carefully considered motives. We shall see,
perhaps, by and by, how this was.

Eastman used to wonder that Hiram should tolerate Hill's society. To be
sure, he himself had a sort of family regard for him. But his presence
always annoyed him. He even expressed his surprise to Hiram, who replied
by making use of the moral argument. He was sorry for the poor fellow.
He hoped to do him some good. Possibly he might be able to bring him