and turned to my father as he stood
looking on.

"You did not write to him," she said.

"Oh, yes, I daresay he did, mother," I cried, "but of late I have been
travelling about a great deal."

"Then the letter would have come back, Harry," said my mother. "He did
not write."

"No," said my father quietly; "I did not write. What was the use of
troubling the poor fellow about our miserable affairs when he was far
away?"

"Then you did not come, Harry, because we were in trouble?"

"No, mother," I replied. "I came home because my task was done."

"Your task was done?" said my mother. "I don't understand you. I
thought you went to work at your uncle's."

"I was with my uncle, mother," I replied, enjoying the knowledge of the
surprise I had in store, and feeling that now, indeed, the treasure I
had found was worth having, for what changes it would work! "but he was
in trouble too."

"In trouble!" said my father and mother in a breath.

"Yes, he was in the same predicament as you are, and his coffee
plantation was going to be sold up."

"What an unhappy family ours is!" said my mother. "Harry--Harry! you
might as well have stayed at home."

"If I had stayed at home, mother, would it have spared you this
trouble?"

"I--I don't know, my boy. Would it, my dear?" she said, turning to my
father.

"No, wife--no," he said; "Harry was quite right to go. He foresaw what
was coming, and how useless it was for me to try. The hardest part of
it, my lad, is that I can't go out of business an honest man and pay
every one his due."

"Don't fret, dear," said my mother; "you've done your best and given up
everything. But tell me, Harry," she cried, "what did my poor brother
do? Had he no friend to help him?"

"Yes, mother."

"And did he?"

"Yes, mother."

"What! paid his debts?"

"Yes, dear mother."

"God bless him!" said my mother fervently. "I wish I could take him by
the hand. And how is your uncle now?"

"He was quite well when I left him to-day, mother."

"Left him!--to-day?" said my mother wonderingly.

"Yes, he is in town. I brought him with me, and he will come down and
see you with some one, mother, I want you very much to love."

"You foolish boy!" said my mother. "Ah, Harry--Harry! you are too young
to think of that."

"I'm sorry he's coming to see us," said my father sadly. "We are not in
condition to see company, wife."

"No," said my mother, sighing as she glanced round. "B