s hint, and the singular neglect of
the executors to search for the heirs to the Allen property, together,
and tell me how the matter shapes itself in your mind. We speak
confidentially with each other, of course."

"I don't just like the appearance of it, that is all I can say, Doctor,"
he replied in a half absent manner.

"As you represent the interests of Mrs. Montgomery," said I, "is it not
your duty to look a little closer into this matter?"

"It is; and I shall give it immediate attention."

He did so, and to his surprise, found that all the bank stock had been
sold, and transferred. It was now plain to him where at least a part
of the funds being so liberally expended on the mill property of Squire
Floyd came from. On venturing to make some inquiries of Judge Bigelow
bearing on the subject, that individual showed an unusual degree of
irritation, and intimated, in terms not to be misunderstood, that he
thought himself competent to manage any business he might undertake, and
did not feel disposed to tolerate any intermeddling.

From that time, Wallingford saw that a separation from his old preceptor
was inevitable; and he so shaped events, that in less than three months
he made the separation easy and natural, and took an office to himself
alone.

Still there was no movement on the part of the executors in regard
to the valuable estate in their hands. Summer and fall passed, and
Christmas saw the splendid improvements of Squire Floyd completed,
and the new mill in operation, under the vigorous power of steam. The
product thus secured was almost fabulous in the eyes of the half asleep
and awake people of S----, many of whom could hardly imagine people
enough in the country to consume the miles of cloth that came streaming
out from the rattling looms. And yet, we were informed, that more than
quadruple this product could be sold by the extensive house of Floyd,
Lawson, Lee, & Co.; and that all that stood in the way of creating a
magnificent fortune out of cotton bales, was the lack of productive
facilities.

During this winter I saw more than usual of Mrs. Dewey. She came up
from New York with her nurse and child, a babe not quite a year old, and
spent over six weeks with her parents. She had lost, in the two years
which had passed since her marriage, nearly all those beautiful traits
of character which made her once so charming. Fashionable city life
seemed to have spoiled her altogether. Her mind had not gr