hat he possessed, to
satisfy as far as possible all just demands. It was a very bitter
experience for him to pass through, but he was in a state of health too
weak and broken fully to realise all that it involved. For the time it
was worse for his sons than for him. Frank devoted himself all the more
earnestly to his father's care and comfort, and his doing so made this
time of trouble more endurable for both. Philip saw little of his
father. His place was to act for him wherever he could do so, so as to
spare him as much as possible the details of the painful business.

It was a very miserable time to him. He made up his mind to get away as
soon as possible to California or British Columbia, or anywhere else, so
that it was far enough away. But he did not go. He did far better than
that would have been. He staid at home, not very willingly, still he
staid, and tried to do his duty as he had never tried before, and there
were times when it was not easy to do.

Mr Caldwell, as one in whom the creditors had perfect confidence, both
as to his conscientiousness and his knowledge of affairs, was appointed
by them to settle up Mr Oswald's business, and with their permission
Philip Oswald was requested to act as his assistant for the time. It
was not the thing he would have chosen for himself, but if he had gone
away now, it must have been without his father's consent, and if he
staid at home it was absolutely necessary that he should earn money for
the payment of his own debts. There was nothing better offered for his
acceptance, and Mr Caldwell's terms were such as even Philip considered
liberal.

"Though I know quite well he would much rather have had Davie Inglis,"
said he to Frank, when it was quite settled that he was to stay. "I
don't believe he thinks I shall be much good. However, I must take it
and make the best of it."

"You are quite wrong. Davie wouldn't suit him half so well as you in
this business, though of course he has perfect confidence in Davie, and
you have to be tried yet. But he knows you will make it a point of
honour to do your best in the circumstances."

"If these people in M-- had not been such fools as to force matters on,
there might have been some inducement to do one's best in straightening
out things. And it would have been better for them and for us too. I
wish I were a thousand miles away from it all."

"No, you don't, unless you could take the rest, of us out of it too