red them in the face, unless they could
find a true friend.

Miss Barry had generously offered him her store and her credit. Though
there had been a time when she withheld Sylvie, and fancied Jack Darcy
not quite the equal of her pretty niece, that time had long gone by. She
knew now his genuine worth,--she had tested his integrity. Of course
Sylvie would drift that way; and so, by many delicate turns, she showed
Jack that she could trust him with any of her treasures.

"You are so good," said the honest fellow, with tears in his eyes,--for
he was touched beyond measure. "If I can't get through I will gladly
accept, unless the prospect is so bad that it would be sure to
jeopardize any one's money. But I hope it will not come to that."

How breathlessly he waited for Miss McLeod's answer! The morning's mail
did not bring it; night closed in without it. A chill drizzle had set
in, freezing as it fell, and the keen air fairly flayed one's skin. Yet
he dreaded to go in-doors, to hear his mother's pleasant voice. Cousin
Jane had been called away by the illness and possible death of a
relative, so they two were alone.

When Mrs. Darcy saw her son so grave and pre-occupied, his eyes sadly
pathetic with trouble, mother-like, she tried to comfort with the small
talk that women often offer, and that answers the purpose like bathing
one's brow with Florida-water in a severe headache. She never mentioned
business to him when in such moods. Now it was a bit of
newspaper-gossip, concerning some discoveries in Greece, that he and
Maverick had been quite eager about.

The poor fellow was distraught, and could not listen. He ate his supper,
choking down the food, for her dear sake, missing strangely Cousin
Jane's pungency and seasoning. Then he tried to interest himself in the
paper, but could not; he paced the floor softly; he whistled a tune, for
his mother's benefit also, but broke down in the middle.

"I must go out a little while," he declared in desperation.

"Not in this storm," said his mother pleadingly.

"Yes. I'll be back by--ten," looking at the clock. "It is too bad to
leave you alone," with sudden regret, kissing her tenderly.

"I shall not mind for a while. But this wretched storm"--

He laughed, a little strained and forced; then he put on his great-coat,
almost wishing that every man in the country was without, and had to buy
one to-morrow. He tramped up the street, drawing long respirations,
every one of whi