A Day of Reing
MR TULLIVER was an essentially sober man - able to take his glass and not averse to it, but never exceeding the bounds of moderation. He had naturally an active Hotspur temperament, which did not crave liquid fire to set it aglow; his impetuosity was usually equal to aing occasion, without any such reinforts, and his desire for the brandy and water implied that the too sudden joy had fallen with a dangerous sho a frame depressed by four years of gloom and unaced hard fare. But that first doubtful t moment passed, he seemed to gather strength with his gatheriement, and the day, when he was seated at table with his creditors, his eye kindling and his cheek flushed with the scioushat he was about to make an honourable figure once more, he looked more like the proud, fident, warm-hearted and warm-tempered Tulliver of old times, than might have seemed possible to any one who had met him a week before, riding along as had been his wont for the last four years sihe sense of failure a had been upon him - with his head hanging down, casting brief, unwilling looks on those who forced themselves on his notice. He made his speech, asserting his ho principles with his old fident eagerness, alluding to the rascals and the luck that had been against him, but that he had triumphed over to some extent by hard effort and the aid of a good son, and winding up with the story of how Tom had got the best part of the needful money. But the streak of irritation and hostile triumph seemed to melt for a little while into purer fatherly pride and pleasure, when, Toms health having been proposed, and uncle Deane having taken occasion to say a few words of eulogy on his general character and duct, Tom himself got up and made the single speech of his life. It could hardly have been briefer: he thahe gentlemen for the honour they had done him. He was glad that he had been able to help his father in proving his iy and regaining his ho name, and, for his own part, he hoped he should never undo that work and disgrace that name. But the applause that followed was so great, and Tom looked so gentlemanly as well as tall and straight, that Mr Tulliver remarked in an explanatory mao his friends on his right ahat he had spent a deal of money on his sons education. The party broke up in very sober fashion at five oclock. Tom remained in St Oggs to attend to some business and Mr Tulliver mounted his horse to go home, and describe the memorable things that had been said and doo `poor Bessy and the little wench. The air of excitement that hung about him, was but faintly due to good cheer or any stimulus but the potent wine of triumphant joy. He did not choose any back street today, but rode slowly, with uplifted head and free glances along the principal street all the way to the bridge. Why did he not happen to meet Wakem? The want of that ce vexed him a his mind at work in an irritating erhaps Wakem was go of town today on purpose to avoid seeing or hearing anything of an honorable a, which might well cause him some unpleasant twinges. If Wakem were to meet him then, Mr Tulliver would look straight at him, and the rascal would perhaps be forsaken a little by his cool domineering impudence. He would know by and by that an ho man was not going to serve him any longer, and lend his hoy to fill a pocket already over full of disho gains. Perhaps the luck was beginning to turn: perhaps the devil didnt always hold the best cards in this world.
Simmering