dear, that you quoted to
me as being your text for the day?"

"`Owe no man anything,'" replied Aileen.

"Yes, it is curious. I have never mentioned the subject to you, my
child, but some months ago--when, as I have said, the tide was very
low--I was led to consider that passage, and under the influence of it I
went to my creditors and delivered up to them your box of jewels. You
are aware, no doubt, that having passed through the insolvency court,
and given up all that I possessed, I became legally free. This box was
recovered from the deep, and restored to me after my effects had been
given up to my creditors, so that I might have retained it. But I felt
that this would have been unjust. I respect the law which, after a man
has given up all he possesses, sets him free to begin life again with
some degree of hope, but I cannot avoid coming to the conclusion that
moral duties cannot be abrogated by human laws. I take advantage of the
law to prevent inhuman creditors from grinding me to death, but I refuse
to take advantage of the law so as to escape from the clear duty that I
ought to pay these creditors--gradually and according to my ability--to
the uttermost farthing. Having been led to act on this opinion, I gave
up the box of jewels. To my surprise, my creditors refused to take
them. They returned them to me as a gift. I accepted the gift as a
trust. On the proceeds, as you see, we manage to live comfortably, and
I am now conducting a fairly successful business in the old line--on a
small scale."

Mr Hazlit smiled sadly as he uttered the last words.

"And the debts, papa, which you told me once were so heavy, do you mean
to pay them all?" asked Aileen, anxiously.

"I do," replied her father, earnestly; "by slow degrees it may be, but
to the last farthing if I live. I shall try to owe no man anything."

A glad smile lit up Aileen's face as she was on the point of throwing
her arms round her father's neck, when the door opened, and a small
domestic--their only one besides the cook--put a letter into the hands
of her young mistress.

Aileen's countenance assumed a troubled look a she handed it to her
father.

"It is for you, papa."

Mr Hazlit's visage also assumed an expression of anxiety as he opened
and read the letter. It ran thus:--

"Deer Sur,--i thinks it unkomon 'ard that a man shood 'ave is beed
sold under im wen anuther man oas im munny, speshally wen is wifes
ill--praps a-dyin--