tell me that? Here, haven't you been gone a good two
hours?--and all that time going to the bank, eh?"

"I tell you the truth, Mr. Delancey; and I am sure you are aware of
it."

"Well, there's no use talking now; you will not convince me if you talk
till doomsday. That money you've got to replace out of your salary."

"Why, sir, it was three hundred dollars."

"There! there! how do you know how much it was, if you didn't look at
it, I'd like to know."

"I heard Wilkins say this morning he had such a deposit to make. Ask
him, sir, if he didn't."

"I've heard enough about it. You must make it up, that's all; and you'll
be more careful henceforth."

"And, sir, you will retract what you insinuated had become of it? I'll
willingly make it up to you, if it takes every cent I earn; but I'll not
have a blight upon my reputation, even in your opinion, sir."

His words fell upon empty air; for Mr. Delancey had already left the
high desk, and was striking his cane heavily down with each step, as he
stalked down through the store. Arthur sank upon a chair, and buried his
face in his hands.

"A hard fate," he murmured, bitterly. "First to suffer the loss, and
then to be accused, or at least suspected, of appropriating it. Heavens!
it is too much; I will not and cannot stand it."

"Be calm, Arthur," said Wilkins, in his full deep tones; "look up, and
tell us what has happened."

Arthur raised his head, and told his story unhesitatingly.

"This is a bad business, my young friend. I am extremely sorry; but the
only way for you is not to mind it. This is Mr. Delancey's way.
Intercourse with the world has rendered him suspicious, and you'll never
convince him that you don't know something about the money. No one else
that knows you will ever think so, though; and you will stand just as
high as ever. Yours isn't the first case of this kind."

"It is too outrageous, Wilkins, and I won't bear it. Do you think I'll
tamely submit to be called, or thought, a thief?"

"What can you do? It is useless to talk or feel thus; say nothing, go
steadily on, and Delancey himself will forget, after awhile, his
suspicions. As to replacing it, I feel that you have been unfortunate
through my means, and I will assist you in that."

"I don't wish you to, thank you, Wilkins. I don't care so much for my
money as I do for my good name. To be robbed of it in this manner, is
more than I can possibly endure."

"Let me beg of you to think no mo