e to have the office "thoroughly cleaned!" There was the
same air of quiet, too, and seclusion; but the smells were not so musty
as they used to be, and there was something terribly unbusinesslike in
the locked desk and the shut books and the utter absence of papers. The
portrait of his deceased wife's father was there, however, as grim,
silent, and steadfast in its gaze as ever, so Mr Webster smiled, nodded
to it, and rang a hand-bell for his confidential clerk, who entered
instantly, having been stationed at the back of the door for full ten
minutes in expectation of the summons.

"Good morning, Mr Grinder. I have been ill, you see. Glad to get
back, however. How has business been going on in my absence? The
doctor forbade my making any inquiries while I was ill, so that I have
been rather anxious."

"Yes, sir, I am aware--I--in fact I was anxious to see you several times
on business, but could not gain admittance."

"H'm! not going on so well as might be desired, I suppose," said Mr
Webster.

"Well, not quite; in short, I might even say things are much worse than
they were before you took ill, sir; but if a confidential agent were
sent to Jamaica to--to--that is, if Messrs. Bright and Early were seen
by yourself, sir, and some arrangement made, we might--might--go on for
some time longer, and if trade revives, I think--"

"So bad as that!" exclaimed Mr Webster, musing. "Well, well, Grinder,
we must do our best to pull through. Are any of our vessels getting
ready for sea just now?"

"Yes, sir, the _Ocean Queen_ sails for Jamaica about the end of this
month."

"Very well, Grinder, I will go in her. She is one of our best ships, I
think. The doctor said something about a short voyage to recruit me, so
that's settled. Bring me writing materials, and send a statement of
affairs home to me to-night. I have not yet strength to go into details
here."

Grinder brought the writing materials and retired. His employer wrote
several letters; among them one to the doctor, apprising him of his
intention to go to Jamaica, and another to the captain of the _Ocean
Queen_, giving him the same information, and directing him to fit up the
two best berths in the cabin for the reception of himself and his
daughter, with a berth for an old female servant.

Three weeks thereafter he went on board with Annie and Mrs Niven, and
the _Ocean Queen_, spreading her sails, was soon far out upon the broad
bosom of the restle