ter at midsummer.
Scarlet-fever had pretty well disappeared; but malaria had come in its
stead, convenient name for want of nourishment, stagnation, and
despondency. The haggard-looking wives and mothers went out to a day's
washing or scrubbing; but the children, better off, roamed over the
fields in search of berries or a stray ownerless fruit-tree, laughing
and happy in their rags and bare feet.

Darcy tried two or three pretty well-to-do men, that he fancied had the
good of the town at heart; but the project looked wild to them. If David
Lawrence couldn't stand up against hard times, no new men could. He,
Darcy, had better put his money in government-bonds, and live on the
interest. Nothing could be made in such times as these.

"It seems as if one half of the world has decided that the other half
should starve," Jack declared in a discouraged tone. "No one is willing
to start the ball again. If it wasn't for mother I would risk every
dollar of my own. And then to think of the land lying idle about
here,--enough to feed half the town! I do not wonder that we are fast
coming to beggary and ruin."

Maverick was pretty sober for several days, then he went off to
Narragansett Pier; "tired of my everlasting badgering," said Jack to
Sylvie, who, poor child, had her hands and heart full of projects that
she talked over with Miss Morgan and her aunt, and did not make much
more progress than Jack.

So it happened one July evening that Jack sat smoking on the porch in a
rather despondent frame of mind. Miss Morgan and his mother had gone to
make some neighborly calls.

A quick step came down the street. "If Maverick wasn't in Rhode Island!"
thought Jack; then it came nearer, with a little halt, and Jack sprang
down the steps in the moonlight.

"Hillo, old fellow!" said the rich, laughing voice. "Have you looked
after my patients, and entertained my office-callers, in my absence?
That would only be fair play, for I have been about your business; and,
by Jove! succeeded too!"

"Maverick!" There was an odd little tremble in Jack's voice.

"Ask me to sit down, and stay me with--well, a pipe, for I have finished
my last cigar. I came in the train just fifteen minutes ago, and
skulked--that's the very word--under the trees and through by-ways, lest
some one, seeing, should lay violent hands on me. Yes, get out your best
armchair, old chap, and treat me like a prince."

The two seated themselves again, and stretched out th