MEANWHILE the hours passed with the mother, sister, and brother in the most agonizing suspense.

Henry, who had been drawn away into evil company by two young men who boarded in the house, was neglecting his studies, and pressing on towards speedy ruin.

To drinking and association with the vicious, he now added gaming.

Little did his mother dream of the perilous ways his feet were treading.

On this occasion he had come in, as has been seen, with a demand for ten dollars.