ly.

Jacob was suddenly back from that unreal world into which his magical
prosperity had pitchforked him. He drained the glass which he raised
to his lips with firm fingers.

"Ghosts belong to the past," he answered. "All that we have any
concern with is the future."

CHAPTER V

Jacob, in the midst of those pleasant activities necessitated by his
change of fortunes, found time to write a letter. He wrote it with
great care and after many revisions, and not until after it was
dispatched did he realise with how much anxiety he awaited the reply.

The Cottage,
Marlingden.

Dear Miss Bultiwell,

I am venturing to write these few lines to assure you of my
very deep sympathy with you in the loss which you have
sustained, and I beg also to express the earnest hope that
you will not associate me in any way with those misfortunes
of your father which I was powerless to avert or lighten.

I have a further object in writing to you, which I hesitate
to touch upon for fear I should give you offence, but I do
beg, Miss Bultiwell, that you will accept my offer in a
kind and generous spirit, and believe that it is entirely
dictated by feelings of friendship for you. I gather that
your father's affairs are so much involved that a
considerable interval may elapse before any substantial sum
can be collected from his estate for the benefit of
yourself and your mother. I beg, therefore, as a person
into whose hands great wealth has come quite unexpectedly,
that you will, if it is the slightest convenience to you,
permit me to offer to make any advance necessary for your
comfort. At a word from you, it will give me the greatest
pleasure to place a thousand pounds, or any such sum, in
any bank you may name, for your use until the estate is
wound up.

If I have expressed myself crudely, please forgive me, Miss
Bultiwell. I have a sincere desire to be of service to you,
and I would like very much to be able to sign myself

Your friend,
Jacob Pratt.

The reply came by return of post. It was dated from the late Mr.
Bultiwell's house, a few miles farther down the line than Marlingden.

Dear Mr. Pratt,

The offer contained in your letter, which I received this
morning, may possibly have been kindly meant, but I wish
you to