but at least you should refuse to open your purse to him. Don't
you see that this sort of thing is not only a disgrace to him, but
very prejudicial to the village? What authority can you have for
speaking against vice and drunkenness, when your son is constantly
intoxicated?"

"I see that, Squire--none better; and I have thought of resigning
my cure."

"Stuff and nonsense, Parson! If the young fellow persists in his
present course he must leave the village, that is clear enough;
but that is no reason why you should. The question is what is to
be done with him? The best thing he could do would be to enlist. He
might be of some service to his country, in India or the American
Colonies, but so far as I can see he is only qualifying himself
for a jail here."

"I have told him as much, Squire," Mr. Bastow said, in a depressed
voice, "and he has simply laughed in my face, and said that he was
very comfortable where he was, and had no idea whatever of moving."

"What time does he go out in the morning?" John Thorndyke asked
abruptly.

"He never gets up till twelve o'clock, and has his breakfast when
I take my dinner."

"Well, I will come in tomorrow morning and have a talk with him
myself."