ed in a passionate wrestling with the
image of joys lost and longed for. Meanwhile, the hot days of
August were passed, the first heats of September were slowly
gone; and days and nights began to cool off in earnest towards
the frosty weather.

"If there ain't some way found to keep Miss Haye's eyes from
cryin', she won't have 'em to do anything else with. And
she'll want 'em, some day."

Clam, like Elizabeth of old, having nobody else to speak to,
was sometimes driven to speak to the nearest at hand.

"Is she cryin', now?" said Karen.

"I don' know what _you_'d call it," said Clam. "'Tain't much
like other folks' cryin'."

"Well there's a letter Anderese fetched -- you'd better take it
to her as soon as it'll do. Maybe it'll do her good."

"Where from?" said Clam seizing it.

"Anderese fetched it from Mountain Spring."

"Now I wish 'twas -- but it ain't! --" said Clam. "I'll take it
to her anyhow."

Elizabeth knew that _it wasn't_, as soon as she took it. The
letter was from the gentleman who had been her father's lawyer
in the city.

Mannahatta, Sept. 26, 1817.

"Dear madam,

"Upon arrangement of Mr. Haye's affairs, I regret to say, we
find it will take nearly all his effects to meet the standing
liabilities and cover the failure of two or three large
operations in which Mr. Haye had ventured more upon uncertain
contingencies than was his general habit in business matters.
So little indeed will be left, at the best issue we can hope
for, that Mrs. Haye's interest, whose whole property, I
suppose you are aware, was involved, I grieve to say will
amount to little or nothing. It were greatly to be wished that
some settlement had in time been made for her benefit; but
nothing of the kind was done, nor I suppose in the
circumstances latterly was possible. The will makes ample
provision, but I am deeply pained to say, is, as matters
stand, but a nullity. I enclose a copy.

"I have thought it right to advertise you of these painful
tidings, and am,

"Dear madam, with great respect,

"Your obedient servant,

"Dustus O. Brick."

Elizabeth had read this letter, and pondered over it by turns
half the day, when a startling thought for the first time
flashed into her mind. Rose's desolate condition! Less
desolate than her own indeed, in so far that Rose had less
strength to feel; but more desolate by far, because being as
friendless she was much more helpless than herself. "What will
she do, withou