This  very  matter  of  leading  was  a  sore  trial  to  him.  The
further  he  got  on  his  new  road  the  more  he  felt  the  want  of
guidance — the  guidance  of  some  man  ;  for  that  of  books  he
soon  found  to  be  bewildering.  His  college  tutor,  whom  he
consulted,  only  deprecated  tlie  waste  of  time  ;  but,  on  finding
it  impossible  to  dissuade  him,  at  last  recommended  the  eco-
nomic works  of  that  day  as  the  proper  well-springs  of  truth  on
such  matters.  To  them  Tom  accordingly  went,  and  read  with
the  docility  and  faith  of  youth,  bent  on  learning,  and  feeling
itself  in  the  presence  of  men  -who  had,  or  assumed,  the  right
of  speaking  with  authority.
