e
thrown out, would inveigh bitterly against the directors, calling hard
names, and prophesying "a grand explosion one of these days;" but these
invectives and predictions hardly ever found a repetition beyond the
narrow limits of his place of business.

And so the splendid schemes of Ralph Dewey and Company went on
prospering, while he grew daily in self-importance, and in offensive
superciliousness toward men from whom he had nothing to expect. In
my own case I had little to complain of, as my contact with him was
generally professional, and under circumstances that caused a natural
deference to my skill as a physician.

Nothing out of the ordinary range of things transpired until towards
Christmas, when my wife received a note from Mrs. Dewey, asking her as a
special favor to call at the Allen House. She was there in half an hour
after the note came to hand.

I was at home when she returned, and saw the moment I looked into her
face that she had been the witness of something that had moved her
deeply.

"Is anything wrong with Mrs. Dewey?" I asked.

"Yes." Her countenance took on a more serious aspect.

"In what respect?"

"The story cannot be told in a sentence. I received a note from her as
you are aware. Its earnest brevity forewarned me that the call involved
something of serious import; and I was not mistaken in this conclusion.
On calling, and asking for Mrs. Dewey, I noticed an air of irresolution
about the servant. 'Mrs. Dewey is not well,' she said, 'and I hardly
think can see company to-day.'

"'She is not ill, I hope?' said I.

"'No, ma'am; not ill exactly, but--' and she hesitated and looked
embarrassed.

"'She will see me,' I spoke confidently. 'Take her my name, and I will
wait here in the parlor.'

"In a few minutes the girl returned and asked me to walk up stairs. I
followed her to Mrs. Dewey's room. She tapped lightly on the door, which
was opened. I passed in, and found myself alone with Delia. She grasped
my arm tightly as she shut the door and locked it, saying as she did so,
in a voice so altered from her usual tone, that it sounded strangely in
my ears--

"'Thank you, my friend, for coming so soon. I am in deep trouble, and
need a counselor as well as a comforter. I can trust you for both.'

"I drew my arm around her, so that by act I could give more than the
assurance of words, and walked from the door with her to a lounge
between the windows, where we sat down. Her face had a