lf, had the highest claims of any in the party, changed the
current of feeling, by remarking--

"It is no secret that we are out of favor for a night or two, in
consequence of three figures having been paid for one of us, this very
day, by a bossess, whose father stopped payment within three hours
after he signed the cheque that was to pay the importer. I overheard
the whole story, half an hour since, and thus, you see, every one is
afraid to be seen with an aristocratic handkerchief, just at this
moment. But--bless you! in a day or two all will be forgotten, and we
shall come more into favor than ever. All is always forgotten in New
York in a week."

Such was, indeed, the truth. One General Jackson had "removed the
deposits," as I afterwards learned, though I never could understand
exactly what that meant; but, it suddenly made money scarce, more
especially with those who had none; and every body that was "extended"
began to quake in their shoes. Mr. Halfacre happened to be in this
awkward predicament, and he broke down in the effort to sustain
himself. His energy had over-reached itself, like the tumbler who
breaks his neck in throwing seventeen hundred somersets backwards.

CHAPTER XII.

Every one is more apt to hear an unpleasant rumor than those whom it
immediately affects. Thus Eudosia and her mother were the only persons
at Mrs. Trotter's ball who were ignorant of what had happened; one
whispering the news to another, though no one could presume to
communicate the fact to the parties most interested. In a commercial
town, like New York, the failure of a reputed millionaire, could not
long remain a secret, and every body stared at the wife and daughter,
and me; first, as if they had never seen the wives and daughters of
bankrupts before; and second, as if they had never seen them surrounded
by the evidences of their extravagance.

But the crisis was at hand, and the truth could not long be concealed.
Eudosia was permitted to cloak and get into the carriage unaided by any
beau, a thing that had not happened to her since speculation had
brought her father into notice. The circumstance, more than any other,
attracted her attention; and the carriage no sooner started than the
poor girl gave vent to her feelings.

"What CAN be the matter, Ma?" Eudosia said, "that every person in Mrs.
Trotter's rooms should stare so at me, this evening? I am sure my dress
is as well made and proper as that of any other young