talk about it, Mrs. Parker. What you tell me about yourself
has added greatly to my sorrows. My husband is talking of going
away,--to live out of England."

"Yes, at a place they call--I forget what they call it, but I heard
it."

"Guatemala,--in America."

"I know. Sexty told me. He has no business to go anywhere, while he
owes Sexty such a lot of money. He has taken everything, and now he's
going to Kattymaly!" At this moment Mr. Wharton knocked at the door
and entered the room. As he did so Mrs. Parker got up and curtseyed.

"This is my father, Mrs. Parker," said Emily. "Papa, this is Mrs.
Parker. She is the wife of Mr. Parker, who was Ferdinand's partner.
She has come here with bad news."

"Very bad news indeed, sir," said Mrs. Parker, curtseying again. Mr.
Wharton frowned, not as being angry with the woman, but feeling that
some further horror was to be told him of his son-in-law. "I can't
help coming, sir," continued Mrs. Parker. "Where am I to go if I
don't come? Mr. Lopez, sir, has ruined us root and branch,--root and
branch."

"That at any rate is not my fault," said Mr. Wharton.

"But she is his wife, sir. Where am I to go if not to where he lives?
Am I to put up with everything gone, and my poor husband in the right
way to go to Bedlam, and not to say a word about it to the grand
relations of him who did it all?"

"He is a bad man," said Mr. Wharton. "I cannot make him otherwise."

"Will he do nothing for us?"

"I will tell you all I know about him." Then Mr. Wharton did tell
her all that he knew, as to the appointment at Guatemala and the
amount of salary which was to be attached to it. "Whether he will do
anything for you, I cannot say;--I should think not, unless he be
forced. I should advise you to go to the offices of the Company in
Coleman Street and try to make some terms there. But I fear,--I fear
it will be all useless."

"Then we may starve."

"It is not her fault," said Mr. Wharton, pointing to his daughter.
"She has had no hand in it. She knows less of it all than you do."

"It is my fault," said Emily, bursting out into self-reproach,--"my
fault that I married him."

"Whether married or single he would have preyed upon Mr. Parker to
the same extent."

"Like enough," said the poor wife. "He'd prey upon anybody as he
could get a-hold of. And so, Mr. Wharton, you think that you can do
nothing for me."

"If your want be immediate I can relieve it," said the barrister.
Mrs. Par