money, and says
that these will be attended to at once. In apparently offhand manner, an
order is written out on an uptown firm for several articles of food,
clothing, bedding, and small household furniture. Handing this to the
surprised woman, he remarked:

"It's all right--a part of my business."

Noting that the pleased look had been followed by one of uneasy
perplexity, he says:

"Perhaps you are a little modest about presenting such an order, or the
firm do not know you, Mrs. Dodge?"

The poor woman knows not what reply to make.

Having won the confidence of Mrs. Dodge, Sir Donald bluntly says:

"Do not be alarmed. I know your name and something of your past, but I
am a real friend of the family, and can be trusted. Tell me just as much
or little as you please, but let me know all about present troubles. You
are not to blame, and your children must be cared for."

Seeing that she still wavered, Sir Donald gently says:

"You need not tell me about anything, but what can I do for you?"

Before time for reply, the sick child feebly said:

"Mamma, isn't papa gone a long time?"

The mother looked frightened, and quickly stepped to the cot, as if to
caution the invalid.

"Yes; but, mamma, he has been gone so long, and does not write! Is
Bombay a great way off, mamma?"

Moved by impulse to caution the child, motherly instinct toward uttering
comforting assurance and wifely loyalty to her husband's safety, the
poor woman, stammering incoherently, looked helplessly at Sir Donald.

"But, mamma, the old gentleman said last night that papa might come any
time, with lots of money."

Fully convinced that this loyal wife still trusted in her absent husband
and was fearful of possible identification, Sir Donald now concludes to
learn the whole truth.

Telling Mrs. Dodge that he has news for her, they sit down on a bench at
the farther end of the cabin.

Kindly but positively asserting that he knew much more than she about
her husband's past life, and could do him much harm, he stated his
desire was to help. Some professed friends were Mr. Dodge's enemies,
interested in ruining him to shield themselves. These were adroit, and
posed as her friends while plotting the ruin of both. It was to save the
whole family from deceitful schemes that he now begged her to trust him
implicitly, keeping back nothing.

"You owe it to yourself and children to let me know all, that I may help
in these troubles."

"Mamma, I d