THE MORNING'S REFLECTIONS When young Pacey awoke in the morning he had a very bad headache, and his temples throbbed as if the veins would burst their bounds.

The first thing that recalled the actual position of affairs to his mind was feeling under the pillow for his watch: a fruitless search that ended in recalling something of the overnight's proceedings.
Pacey liked a cheap flash, and when elated with wine might be betrayed into indiscretions that his soberer moments were proof against.

Indeed, among youths of his own age he was reckoned rather a sharp hand; and it was the vanity of associating with men, and wishing to appear a match for them, that occasionally brought him into trouble.

In a general way, he was a very cautious hand.
He now lay tumbling and tossing about in bed, and little by little he laid together the outline of the evening's proceedings, beginning with his challenging Mr.Sponge's chestnut, and ending with the resignation of his watch and chain.

He thought he was wrong to do anything of the sort.