to see me.
Our office was at the right of the shop, as it were, connecting the
wholesale and the retail departments, having a window looking into
each. My father was great on keeping his whole establishment under his
own eye.

Now, I had charge of the shop books during the temporary absence of Mr.
Brown, who did not, indeed, concern himself much with anything so petty
as the retail department. But I felt very grand indeed. You see, I
had never given up hope of seeing my father walk in with his sharp,
decided tread, and ask to see the ledger. Then he would find
everything posted, and that would be my triumph.

"I have come to see you, Joseph," said Mr. Ablethorpe; "I have
something to say to you which I have been pondering over for a long
time."

I began to wonder if he had changed his mind about marrying, and was
actually going to ask me for Constantia's hand. This made me feel more
"Head of the House" than ever.

But it was something quite different, and Mr. Ablethorpe brought me
down to earth again with a whop, as if I had fallen from the store
rafters.

"I have been able to arrange about the three poor creatures, Honorine,
Camilla, and Sidonia Orrin. They will be in safety with the Good
Sisters of the Weak-minded at Thorsby. There is, therefore, no longer
any object in withholding from you my confidence. I am morally certain
that carrier Harry Foster has been foully murdered, and his body
concealed. Further, my dear, dear boy, I fear that I cannot now give
you much hope of a different fate for your father----"

"There I differ from you," said I stoutly.

"I am glad to hear it," he said quietly; "but I should like to know the
reason of your confidence."

"Because of the message; because my father is so strong and brave; and
because--because I am certain he is not dead! And then Elsie!"

He lifted his hand as if to pray me not to go into that question. At
this I fired up.

"I have heard many things," he began; "a man in my position does!"

"Never anything against Elsie!" I was heated, and shouted.

"Certainly not! Though of another communion she has always----"

"Well, then, say no more"--I stamped my foot--"she has suffered the
same fate as my father. That accursed house has something to do with
it. As yet I do not know what. But something! She has not gone away
from Breckonside without letting her friends know. I will not listen
to that from you or any other man, Mr. Ablethorpe!"