Mason and Barling had introduced him into gay company, and, fascinated with a new and more exciting kind of life, he was fast forming associations and acquiring habits of a dangerous character.

It was rare that he spent an evening at home; and, instead of being of any assistance to his mother, was constantly making demands on her for money.

The pain all this occasioned Mrs.Darlington was of the most distressing character.

Since the children of Mr.and Mrs.Scragg came into the house, Edward and Ellen, who had heretofore been under the constant care and instruction of their mother, left almost entirely to themselves, associated constantly with these children, and learned from them to be rude, vulgar, and, in some things, even vicious.

And Miriam had become apparently so much interested in Mr.Burton, who was constantly attentive to her, that both Mrs.Darlington and Edith became anxious on her account.