ame to have
become even a probable event."

"My dear father, it is not surely too late. I will help you in any way
I can." And then Mr. Filmer's eyes met his son's eyes, and, oh, how
well they understood each other!

"And the way being the way of duty, Harry," he answered, "we shall not
miss it; for duty is the commandment exceeding broad."

At this point Mrs. Filmer entered, and Harry, after placing her in a
chair, left the room. For a few minutes she sat quiet, looking into
the fire with that apathetic stare which follows exhausted feeling.

Then Mr. Filmer put his chair beside hers, and taking her hand, said:

"My dear Emma, we must bear and fight this trouble together. Harry has
told me all. And I do think, if Mr. Van Hoosen will marry Rose, it is
the very best thing for the dear girl. He will take her to Europe,
into entirely fresh scenes,--and marriage buries so many imperfections
and offences."

"Pray, what has Mr. Van Hoosen to do with Rose?"

"He wishes to marry her. He wishes to have the right to watch over and
protect her."

"Mr. Van Hoosen marry Rose! What an idea! Rose is exceedingly angry at
him. She says he interfered with her in the most unwarrantable manner,
and frightened her until she has been quite sick from the shock."

"He did well to frighten her. On that awful road leading down, and
down, nothing but a fright will arrest attention. If Rose will not put
herself in a loving husband's care, then we will shut this house and
go to Woodsome to-morrow night."

"Such nonsense!"

"I say, we will leave New York to-morrow night for Woodsome, or else
we will take the next steamer for Europe. There are these two
alternatives; these two, and no other."

"And you will permit your daughter to marry the son of the mason who
built our house?"

"The mason who built our house is of my own kindred. He is as fine a
gentleman as ever I met. He is honorable and well cultured; and his
son, Harry says--and he knows him well--is worthy of his father."

"Nevertheless, Rose will not marry him. And as for breaking up the
house now, it is not to be thought of. People will say that we had
been compelled to do so, either by Rose's misconduct or else by our
own poverty. It is simply ruinous to our social standing to leave the
city now."

"If Rose is not inclined to marry Mr. Van Hoosen, we shall leave the
city to-morrow evening. For I do not believe I shall be able to afford
the European alternative. At any ra