Theodore Winthrop

“ Fair spires and towers and dreamy cloisters, — dusky chapels, and rich old halls, — green gardens, overlooked by lovely oriels, — high avenues of elms for quiet contemplation, — companionship of earnest minds, — a life of simple rules and struggles without pain, how hard it was for the young man to leave all this! ”

“ The dilapidated Manor-House published the faded fortunes of its tenants.
“Tenants at will,” so said the father to his son, in the parlor where Vandyck’s picture presided.
“Whose will?” Edwin asked.
“Colonel Billop’s.”
“The name is new to me.”
“He is a half-pay officer and ex-army-contractor, — a hard, cruel man. He has made a great fortune, as such men make fortunes.” ”

“ And to crown all, could you seduce your friend into a promising job, make the trustful fool responsible for the losses, and when they came, supply him means to pay them, receiving a ruinous mortgage as security? ”