This referred specially to Tom's unwillingness to enter upon the study of medicine, which had been chosen for him. "I should make a better farmer," he said, bitterly, after a prolonged discussion. "I'm not the build for women's bedrooms and children's bedsides. De Courcy would have suited you better." "De Courcy is a gentleman--a gentleman, sir! He was born one and would shine in any profession a gentleman may adorn. As for you, this is the only thing left for you, and you shall try it, by G----!" "Oh," said Tom, "I'll try it. I can only fail, and I've done that before." He did try it forthwith, applying himself to his studies with a persistence quite creditable. He read lying upon sofas and lounging in the piazzas, and in course of time was sent to attend lectures in Philadelphia. Whether he could have gained his diploma or not was never decided. Those of the professors who commented on him at all, spoke of him as slow but persevering, and regarded him rather as a huge receiving machine of orderly habits. The Judge began to congratulate himself upon his determination, and his mother thought it "a good thing poor Tom was disposed of." But one terrible morning just before the first course of lectures was completed, he suddenly returned, walking into the Judge's office without any previous intimation of his intention. When he turned in his seat and confronted him, the Judge lost his breath. "You!" he cried; "you!" "Yes," said Tom, "I've come back." He was rather pale and nervous, but there was a dogged, resigned look in his eyes. "I've made up my mind," he added, "that I cannot stand it. Turn me loose on one of your plantations to--to boss niggers. You said once I was fit for an overseer. Perhaps you weren't wrong. Say the word and I'll start to-morrow." The Judge's aquiline countenance turned gray with fury. His fine mustache seemed to curl itself anew. "You--you accursed scoundrel!" he gasped. "You accursed, underbred hound! Tell me what this means, or I'll strangle you." "You'll say I'm a fool," said Tom, "and I suppose it's true, and--and----" with a tremour in his voice, "I've no need to be particular about the names you call me. I ought to be used to them by this time." "Speak out," thundered the Judge, "and tell me the whole disgraceful truth!"