"The dissolute, spendthrift habits of his son," was suggested.
"These are sufficient to weigh down the father's spirits,--to bow
him to the very dust."

"To speak out plainly," said the other, "I am afraid that the
young man adds another vice to that of drinking and idleness."

"What?"

"Gaining."

"No!"

"There is little doubt of it in my mind. And it is further my
opinion, that his fine horse, for which he paid three hundred
dollars only a few days ago, has passed into the hands of this man
Green, in payment of a debt contracted at the gaming table."

"You shock me. Surely, there can be no grounds for such a belief."

"I have, I am sorry to say, the gravest reasons for what I allege.
That Green is a professional gambler, who was attracted here by
the excellent company that assembled at the 'Sickle and Sheaf' in
the beginning of the lazy miller's pauper-making experiment, I do
not in the least question. Grant this, and take into account the
fact that young Hammond has been much in his company, and you have
sufficient cause for the most disastrous effects."

"If this be really so," observed the gentleman, over whose face a