ny one could be found to believe
that Bogota was a desirable residence, and a fine field for budding
diplomacies; and none remained but Nelly and Augustus to relieve each
other in watches beside their father's sick-bed.

Young, and little experienced in life as she was, Nelly proved a great
comfort and support to her brother in these trying hours. At first he
told her nothing of the doubts and fears that beset him. In fact they
had assumed no shape sufficiently palpable to convey.

It was his daily custom to go over the letters that each morning
brought, and in a few words--the very fewest he could employ--acquaint
Mr. Underwood, the junior partner, of his father's precarious state, and
protest against being able, in the slightest degree, to offer any views
or guidance as to the conduct of matters of business. These would
now and then bring replies in a tone that showed how little Underwood
himself was acquainted with many of the transactions of the house,
and how completely he was accustomed to submit himself to Colonel
Bramleigh's guidance. Even in his affected retirement from business,
Bramleigh had not withdrawn from the direction of the weightiest of
the matters which regarded the firm, and jealously refused any--the
slightest--attempt of his partner to influence his judgment.

One of Underwood's letters completely puzzled Augustus; not only by the
obscurity of its wording, but by the evident trace in it of the writer's
own inability to explain his meaning. There was a passage which ran
thus: "'Mr. Sedley was down again, and this time the amount is two
thousand five hundred; and though I begged he would give me time to
communicate with you before honoring so weighty a draft, he replied--I
take pains to record his exact words:--'There is no time for this;
I shall think myself very fortunate, and deem Colonel Bramleigh more
fortunate still, if I am not forced to call upon you for four times as
much within a fortnight.'" After referring to other matters, there was
this at the end of the letter--

"S------has just repaid the amount he so lately drew from the bank; he
appeared chagrined and out of spirits, merely saying, 'Tell the Colonel
the negotiation has broke down, and that I will write to-morrow.'"

The promised letter from Sedley had not come, but in its place was a
telegram from him, saying, "I find I must see and speak with you, I
shall go over by Saturday, and be with you on Sunday morning."

"Of course