o Dr. Leiden's. The doctor looked at
him, felt his pulse and his chest, and said nothing. But he did not rest
that night, nor did Patty or I.

Thus I came to have to do with the good barrister's private affairs. I
knew that he was a rich man, as riches went in our province, but I had
never tried to guess at his estate. I confess the sums he had paid out
in Tom's behalf frightened me. With the advice of Mr. Bordley and
Mr. Lloyd I managed his money as best I could, but by reason of
the non-importation resolutions there was little chance for good
investments,--no cargoes coming and few going. I saw, indeed, that
buying the Talbot estate had been a fortunate step, since the quantities
of wheat we grew there might be disposed of in America.

When Dr. Leiden was still coming twice a day to Gloucester Street, Mr.
Tom must needs get into a scrape with one of the ladies of the theatre,
and come to me in the Circle chambers for one hundred pounds. I told
him, in despair, that I had no authority to pay out his father's money.
"And so you have become master, sure enough!" he cried, in a passion.
For he was desperate. "You have worked your way in vastly well, egad,
with your Whig committee meetings and speeches. And now he is on his
back, and you have possession, you choose to cut me off. 'Slife, I know
what will be coming next!"

I pulled him into Mr. Swain's private room, where we would be free of
the clerks. "Yes, I am master here," I replied, sadly enough, as he
stood sullenly before me. "I should think you would be ashamed to own
it. When I came to your father I was content to be overseer in Talbot,
and thankful for his bounty. 'Tis no fault of mine, but your disgrace,
that his son is not managing his business, and supporting him in the
rights of his country. I am not very old, Tom. A year older than you, I
believe. But I have seen enough of life to prophesy your end and you do
not reform."

"We are turned preacher," he says, with a sneer.

"God forbid! But I have been in a sponging-house, and tasted the lowest
dregs. And if this country becomes free, as I think it will some day,
such as you will be driven to England, and die in the Fleet."

"Not while my father lives," retorts he, and throws aside the oiled
silk cape with a London name upon it. The day was rainy. I groaned. My
responsibility lay heavy upon me. And this was not my first scene with
him. He continued doggedly:--"You have no right to deny me what is not
yo