the settle next the fire.

The cook, directing a silent, significant glance of compassion toward
her fellow-servants, said,

"Would you like a drink of cider, Tim, or will you wait and take a cup
of tay with myself and Kitty?"

The old man's eyes were fixed on the fire, and a wrinkled hand was
planted firmly on each knee, as if to check their involuntary trembling.
"I'll not drink any thing this night, thank you kindly, Nelly," he said,
in a slow, musing manner, dwelling long on each word.

"Where's Billy?" he asked, after a pause, in a quick, hurried tone,
looking up suddenly at the cook, with an expression in his eyes which,
as she afterward said, took away her breath.

"Oh, never heed Billy! I suppose he's busy with the master."

"Where's the use, Nelly," said the coachman, "in hiding it from him?
Sure, sooner or later, he must know it. Tim," he continued, "God knows
'tis sorrow to my heart this blessed night to make yours sore--but the
truth is, that William has done what he oughtn't to do to the man that
was all one as a father to him."

"What has he done? what will you _dar_ say again my boy?"

"Taken money, then," replied the coachman, "that the master had marked
and put by in his desk; for he suspected this some time past that gold
was missing. This morning 'twas gone; a search was made, and the marked
guineas were found with your son William."

The old man covered his face with his hands, and rocked himself to and
fro.

"Where is he now?" at length he asked, in a hoarse voice.

"Locked up safe in the inner store-room; the master intends sending him
to jail early to-morrow morning."

"He will not," said Gahan, slowly. "Kill the boy that saved his
life!--no, no."

"Poor fellow! the grief is setting his mind astray--and sure no wonder!"
said the cook, compassionately.

"I'm not astray!" cried the old man, fiercely. "Where's the
master?--take me to him."

"Come with me," said the butler, "and I'll ask him will he see you."

With faltering steps the father complied: and when they reached the
parlor, he trembled exceedingly, and leant against the wall for support,
while the butler opened the door, and said,

"Gahan is here, sir, and wants to know will you let him speak to you for
a minute."

"Tell him to come in," said Mr. Hewson, in a solemn tone of sorrow, very
different from his ordinary cheerful voice.

"Sir," said the steward, advancing, "they tell me you are going to send
my boy to pri