conclusion also, that he had reached a second childhood. This may
explain the fact of his importance rapidly declining; and, if privacy was his
object, the veteran had soon a free indulgence of his wishes. Whatever views the
world might entertain of this act of the Major, to himself and to his child, it
seemed no more than a natural gift by a father, of those immunities which he
could no longer enjoy or improve, to a son, who was formed, both by nature and
education, to do both. The younger Effingham did not object to the amount of the
donation; for he felt, that while his parent reserved a moral controul over his
actions, he was relieving himself from a fatiguing burthen; such, indeed, was
the confidence existing between them, that to neither did it seem any thing
more, than removing money from one pocket to another.
    One of the first acts of the young man, on coming into possession of his
wealth, was to seek his early friend, with a view to offer any assistance, that
it was now in his power to bestow.
    The death of Marmaduke's father, and the consequent division of his small
estate, rendered such an offer extremely acceptable to the young Pennsylvanian:
he felt his own powers, and saw, not only the excellencies, but the foibles, in
the character of his friend. Effingham was by nature indolent, confiding, and at
times impetuous and indiscreet; but Marmaduke was uniformly equable,
penetrating, and full of activity and enterprise. To the latter, therefore, the
assistance, or rather connexion, that was proffered to him, seemed to produce a
mutual advantage. It was cheerfully accepted, and the arrangement of its
conditions was easily completed. A mercantile house was established in the
metropolis of Pennsylvania, with the avails of Mr. Effingham's personal
property; all, or nearly all, of which was put into the possession of Temple,
who was the only ostensible proprietor in the concern, while in secret, the
other was entitled to an equal participation in the profits. This connexion was
thus kept private for two reasons; one of which, in the freedom of their
intercourse, was frankly avowed to Marmaduke, while the other continued
profoundly hid in the bosom of his friend. The last was nothing more than pride.
To the descendant of a line of soldiers, commerce, even in that indirect manner,
seemed a degrading pursuit; - but an insuperable obstacle to the disclosure
existed in the prejudices of his father.
    We have already said that Major Effingham had served as a