leave
of absence from the moment you read this till Wednesday fortnight; so
that you have two clear weeks' holiday, and two days for going and
coming. Mr G. can better spare you now than afterwards; so I hope
you and your sister will find or make time for what you have to say to
each other. I do not intend that this journey should break your five
pound note. Let your sister have it, as you intended, and pay your
expenses with that which is inclosed. I hope you will get a place in
this night's coach, and that all will go well with you till we meet
again.

"Mrs Rathbone wishes you much pleasure, and requests you to take
charge of the accompanying letter to Jane.

"I am yours very sincerely,--

"Francis Rathbone."

The inclosure was a ten pound note. Charles stood bewildered. The
pressure of the time, however, made him collect his thoughts, and
determine what was to be done. He first ran to the counting-house to
thank Mr Gardiner briefly, but gratefully, for his indulgence. He next
wrote a note, warmly expressive of his feelings, to Mr Rathbone: one of
his friends in the warehouse engaged to leave it at the door that
evening. Then Charles ran as fast as possible to secure a place in the
coach. After some doubt and anxiety, he succeeded. He then bid his
companions good-bye, and went to his lodgings to pack his little trunk
and pay his bill. He then dined at a chop-house, and found that he had
a clear hour left before it was time to depart. He did not hesitate how
to employ it. There was a poor, a very poor family, who lived a little
way from his lodgings, whose misery had caused Charles many a
heart-ache. The mother was a daughter of the widow who was Charles's
landlady, and it was through her that he knew any thing of them. Some
trifling services he had been able to render these poor people, but with
money he had not been able to assist them. Now, however, he felt
himself so rich, from Mr Rathbone's bounty, that he thought he might
indulge himself by bestowing a small present before his departure. He
knew that one of the children was ill, and required better nourishment
than their poverty could afford. He went to them, saw the child, sat
with it while the mother went out to buy food with the half-crown which
he had put into her hand, and left them with a light heart, followed by
their blessings.

Who was ever happier than Charles at this moment? Whichever way his
mind t