to the door when I am gone, but you?"

Mr Jones had knocked at the door, and left a letter. These were its
contents:--

"Sir,--I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in applying to you
for my own satisfaction. My wife and I have perceived with much
concern that we have lost much of your custom of late. We mind little
the mere falling off of custom in any quarter, in comparison with
failing to give satisfaction. We have always tried, I am sure, to
give satisfaction in our dealings with your family, sir; and if there
has been any offence, I can assure you it is unintentional, and shall
feel obliged by knowing what it is. We cannot conceive, sir, where
you get your meat, if not from us; and if you have the trouble of
buying it from a distance, I can only say we should be happy to save
you the trouble, if we knew how to serve you to your liking; for, sir,
we have a great respect for you and yours.

"Your obedient servants,

"John Jones,

"Mary Jones."

"The kind soul!" cried Hester. "What must we say to them?"

"We must set their minds at ease about our good-will to them. How that
little fellow stares about him, like a child of double his age! I do
believe I could make him look wise at my watch already. Yes, we must
set the Joneses at ease, at all events."

"But how? We must not tell them that we cannot afford to buy of them as
we did."

"No; that would be begging. We must trust to their delicacy not to
press too closely for a reason, when once assured that we respect them
as highly as they possibly can us."

"You may trust them," said Margaret, "I am convinced. They will look in
your face, and be satisfied without further question; and my advice,
therefore, is, that you do not write, but go."

"I will; and now. They shall not suffer a moment's pain that I can save
them. Good-night, my boy! What! you have not learned to kiss yet.
Well, among us all, you will soon know how, if teaching will do it.
What a spirit he has! I fancy he will turn out like Frank."

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

THE LONG NIGHTS.

Almost as soon as Hope had left the house, Sydney Grey arrived, looking
full of importance. He took care to shut the door before he would tell
his errand. His mother had been obliged to trust him for want of
another messenger; and he delivered his message with a little of the
parade of mystery he had derived from her. Mr Grey's family had become
uneasy about