their
hands when they got caught in such scrapes as this. Dick knows just
how to manage. He told me of plenty of people that had done that, who
were living splendidly, and who were received everywhere; and people
thought just as much of them."

"O Lillie, Lillie! my child," said John; "you don't know any thing of
what you are talking about! That would be dishonorable, and wholly out
of the question. No, Lillie dear, the fact is," he said, with a great
gulp, and a deep sigh,--"the fact is, I have failed; but I am going to
fail honestly. If I have nothing else left, I will have my honor and
my conscience. But we shall have to give up this house, and move into
a smaller one. Every thing will have to be given up to the creditors
to settle the business. And then, when all is arranged, we must try to
live economically some way; and perhaps we can make it up again.
But you see, dear, there can be no more of this kind of expenses at
present," he said, pointing to the dresses and jewelry on the bed.

"Well, John, I am sure I had rather die!" said Lillie, gathering
herself into a little white heap, and tumbling into the middle of the
bed. "I am sure if we have got to rub and scrub and starve so, I had
rather die and done with it; and I hope I shall."

John crossed his arms, and looked gloomily out of the window.

"Perhaps you had better," he said. "I am sure I should be glad to."

"Yes, I dare say!" said Lillie; "that is all you care for me. Now
there is Dick Follingsbee, he would be taking care of his wife. Why,
he has failed three or four times, and always come out richer than he
was before!"

"He is a swindler and a rascal!" said John; "that is what he is."

"I don't care if he is," said Lillie, sobbing. "His wife has good
times, and goes into the very first society in New York. People don't
care, so long as you are rich, what you do. Well, I am sure I can't do
any thing about it. I don't know how to live without money,--that's a
fact! and I can't learn. I suppose you would be glad to see me rubbing
around in old calico dresses, wouldn't you? and keeping only one girl,
and going into the kitchen, like Miss Dotty Peabody? I think I see
myself! And all just for one of your Quixotic notions, when you might
just as well keep all your money as not. That is what it is to marry
a reformer! I never have had any peace of my life on account of your
conscience, always something or other turning up that you can't act
like anybody