He felt as if this great man held not only himself, but his mother and sister, their lives and fortunes, at his disposal.

Awe of the reigning sovereign was upon him, but it was the surly awe of the peasant whose mouth is stopped by force from questions.
It was not long before Jerome, going along the country road, came to the beginning of Doctor Prescott's estate.

He owned long stretches of fields along the main street of the village, comprising many fine house-lots, which, however, people were too poor to buy.

Doctor Prescott fixed such high prices to his house-lots that no one could pay them.

However, people thought he did not care to sell.