hope, and joy, adieu--
Would I could add, remembrance too."

Byron.

Arthur was at his place in the morning, almost as soon as Jeff opened
the door. His face was pale and haggard, and wore upon it a look of
unbroken gloom, and his eye wandered restlessly, as if dreading to meet
another's gaze. He had arrived at his post so early, however, that no
clerks were yet in the store, and for some time his only companion was
the busy negro.

"Jeff," said he, at last, in a hesitating tone.

"Yes, massa, I'se here, sah."

"Did you sleep here behind the store-door last night, as usual?"

"Yes, massa, ob course."

"Did my brother go to bed early that you know of?"

"Well, no, massa, he didn't. He and Massa Wilkins sat back dar by de
fire pretty late, sah!"

"Indeed! what could they have been talking of to keep them sitting up?"

"Well, massa, I don't 'spect 'twould be berry hon'ble in me to tell,
case I know dey taut I was sleepin', and didn't know I couldn't help
hearin' ebery word dey sed."

Arthur blushed as the thought crossed his mind, that the negro's sense
of honor was higher than his own; but his curiosity overcame his
scruples, and he went on questioning Jeff, as he rubbed up and trimmed
the lamps for evening.

"Perhaps you heard my name, Jeff, eh?"

"Well, 'casionally, I 'spect I did, sah. Bery common ting for brudders
to talk of one anudder," said Jeff, rubbing away on the lamp he held
with redoubled earnestness.

"Did Mr. Wilkins leave the store, that you know of, after it was
closed?"

"Well, I bleeb he did, sah! He couldn't a come in widout he'd been out,
and I know one ob my toes got pinched in de crack ob de door by his
coming in when 'twas most mornin'."

"My brother was not with him then, was he?"

"Well, I had my eyes shut, sah! and it was too dark to see if I'd a had
'em open. 'Alus de darkest hour 'fore day,' you know, sah."

"You don't know whether my brother asked Mr. Wilkins to go out, or not,
I suppose?"

"Really, couldn't tell anyting 'bout it, sah," said Jeff, mounting on a
wooden stool, and taking down another lamp carefully. As he gained the
floor his eyes met Arthur's face.

"Bless de Lord, young massa, how came you by dat offal bump 'long side
ob your head?"

Arthur drew his hat hastily over his brow, and turned away with a
dissatisfied air, without giving any reply.

He stood in the door, half-angry at the unsatisfactory answers he had
received, but ashamed to