nts committed to them. They are just as
wicked as those who throw it away or spend it badly."

"You are a severe censor, Miss Mary," said the old man. "But you are
right, very right." He placed his hand on his brow.

Mary took her leave, feeling more drawn towards Mr Shank than she had
ever before been, he seemed so softened and so sad, and very much weaker
than he had before appeared.

Mary told her aunt.

"He suffers from want of food," observed Miss Sally. "You shall go
again to-morrow and take him another pudding, and say that I will send
one for him, if he wishes it, every day."

Mary reached Mr Shank's door. She heard him feebly approaching to
withdraw the bolts; as soon as he had done so, he tottered back,
panting, to his seat.

"I am glad you have come, Mary, or I might have been found stiff and
cold on my bed. I am very ill, I fear, for I have never felt before as
I do now," he said, in so low and trembling a voice that Mary had to
draw closer to hear him.

She begged him to eat the food she had brought, hoping that it might
restore his strength. He followed her advice, lifting the spoon slowly
to his mouth.

After he had finished the food he appeared somewhat stronger.

"Thank you, Mary," he said. "I owe you a great deal more than I can now
tell you, for I have something else to say. I want you to bring me a
lawyer, an honest man, if such is to be found, and his clerk must come
to witness my signature. I'll try to keep alive until he arrives, for,
Mary, do you know I think that I am dying."

"O no, I hope not, Mr Shank. You are only weak from want of food,"
exclaimed Mary, who, however, was much alarmed. "I will go on to where
Mr Thorpe lives, I know the way perfectly, and have heard uncle say
that he is a good and honest man, and is trusted by all the people
round."

"Go then, Mary, go!" said the old man. "Don't allow any one to stop
you; and if Mr Thorpe is out, write a message requesting him to come on
here immediately."

Mary, promising Mr Shank that she would obey his wishes, hastened away.
She observed that he did not close the door behind her as usual. She
found Mr Thorpe at home and gave her message.

"What! old Shank the miser? I suspect that he has something worth
leaving behind," observed the lawyer. "I'll be with him immediately,
depend on that. But how are you going to get back, young lady?"

"Oh, I can walk perfectly well," said Mary.

"No; let me drive you as