`Why，yes，inamanner。Forawhile，hemanagedverywell；indeed，hewasamodelofmoderationandprudence——somethingtoomuchsoforthetastesofourwildcommunity；——but，somehow，Lowboroughhadnotthegiftofmoderation：Ifhestumbledalittletooneside，hemustgodownbeforehecouldrighthimself：ifheovershotthemarkonenight，theeffectsofitrenderedhimsomiserablethenextdaythathemustrepeattheoffencetomendit；andsoonfromdaytoday，tillhisclamorousconsciencebroughthimtoastand——Andthen，inhissobermoments，hesobotheredhisfriendswithhisremorse，andhisterrorsandwoes，thattheywereobliged，inself-defence，togethimtodrownhissorrowsinwine，oranymorepotentbeveragethatcametohand；andwhenhisfirstscruplesofconsciencewereovercome，hewouldneednomorepersuading，hewouldoftengrowdesperate，andbeasgreatablackguardasanyofthemcoulddesire——butonlytolamenthisownunutterablewickednessanddegradationthemorewhenthefitwasover。
`Atlast，onedaywhenheandIwerealonetogether，afterponderingawhileinoneofhisgloomy，abstractedmoods，withhisarmsfoldedandhisheadsunkonhisbreast，——hesuddenlywokeup，andvehementlygraspingmyarm，said，——
`Huntingdon，thiswon’tdo！I’mresolvedtohavedonewithit。’
`What，areyougoingtoshootyourself？’saidI。
`No；I’mgoingtoreform，’