once," he said to the servant who appeared. "Sir Clarence has overdrunk
himself, or overeaten himself, I fancy. And help me to put him on the sofa
and loosen his neckcloth. There--very distressing. Apply the usual
remedies, while I step up-stairs and speak to Lady Malmaison."

The usual remedies availed little, and when Dr. Rollinson arrived, four
hours afterward, it was already evident that even he could be of no use.
Sir Clarence never fully regained consciousness, and two days later he
ceased to breathe. There was an inquest, resulting in a verdict of death
by apoplexy, and followed by a handsome funeral. The widow of the
deceased, who was a lady of easily-stirred emotions and limited intellect,
wept at short intervals during several weeks thereafter, and assured the
Honorable Richard that she had no one in the world to depend on besides
him. Archibald, who had moved about the house during this season of
mourning with handsome vacant face and aimless steps, betrayed little
grief at the family loss or comprehension of it; but whenever Pennroyal
was in the way, he followed him round with a dog-like fondness in strange
contrast with the vivid antipathy which he had manifested toward him in
his other phase of being. As for Archibald's brother, now a pale and
slender but dignified youth of nineteen, he assumed the title of Sir
Edward, and the headship of the house, with a grave propriety of bearing
that surprised those who had only looked upon him as a moping scholar.
Undemonstratively, but surely, he gave evidence that he understood the
responsibilities of his position, and that he knew how to make himself
respected. He did not encourage his mother in her unrestrained dependence
upon Pennroyal; and between the latter and him there appears to have
arisen a coolness more or less marked. Certainly, Pennroyal was far from
loving the ceremonious and punctilious young baronet, who would neither
drink nor play cards. Toward Archibald, on the other hand, he exhibited a
cynical and contemptuous sort of good-humor; often amusing himself by