If his finger
ached, or he had a pain in his big toe, he was physicked with half the
Pharmacopoeia; he underwent divers systems of regimen, was kept out
of draughts, cautioned against chills, cased in red flannel; he might,
to crown all, have been laid by in cotton-wool. His mother's over-much
care ought to have killed him; but he had inherited from her a fine
physique, and the lad was large-limbed, healthy, and well grown.
And this vigilant supervision was prolonged far beyond the time when
youths are emancipated usually from their mother's control. Long after
he had left college, and was launched out upon the world, she kept
her hands upon the reins, ruling him with a sharp bit, and driving him
the road she decided it was best for him to go. Mrs. Purling had grown
more and more imperious with advancing years, impatient of
contradiction, self-satisfied, very positive that everything she did
was right. She could not brook opposition to her wishes. Those who
dared to thwart her must do it at their peril; no nature but one
entirely subservient would be likely to continue permanently in accord
with hers; and it was easy to predict troubles in the future between
mother and son unless he yielded always a complete and docile
submission to her will.
For a long time Harold wore his chains without a murmur.
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