ght they cheer him. For he
carried a canvas bag--a great, ugly, grimy-coloured bag--a precious,
precious bag, with the consolation--perhaps the life--of hundreds in it!

I knew, almost by intuition, what he had done--what, in one or two
instances, was afterwards done by other rich and generous Englishmen,
during the crisis of this year.

The bank door flew open like magic. The crowd came pushing in; but
when John called out to them, "Good people, pray let me pass!" they
yielded and suffered him to go in first. He went right up to the desk,
behind which, flanked by a tolerable array of similar canvas bags, full
of gold--but nevertheless waiting in mortal fear, and as white as his
own neck-cloth--the old banker stood.

"Mr. Jessop," John said, in a loud, distinct voice, that all might hear
him, "I have the pleasure to open an account with you. I feel
satisfied that in these dangerous times no credit is more safe than
yours. Allow me to pay in to-day the sum of five thousand pounds."

"Five thousand pounds!"

The rumour of it was repeated from mouth to mouth. In a small
provincial bank, such a sum seemed unlimited. It gave universal
confidence. Many who had been scrambling, swearing, almost fighting,
to reach the counter and receive gold for their notes, put them again
into their pockets, uncashed. Others, chiefly women, got them cashed
with a trembling hand--nay, with tears of joy. A few who had come to
close accounts, changed their minds, and even paid money in. All were
satisfied--the run upon the bank ceased.

Mr. Halifax stood aside, looking on. After the first murmur of
surprise and pleasure no one seemed to take any notice of him, or of
what he had done. Only one old widow woman, as she slipped three
bright guineas under the lid of her market-basket, dropped him a
curtsey in passing by.

"It's your doing, Mr. Halifax. The Lord reward you, sir."

"Thank you," he said, and shook her by the hand. I thought to myself,
watching the many that came and went, unmindful, "ONLY THIS SAMARITAN!"

No--one person more, standing by, addressed him by name. "This is
indeed your doing, and an act of benevolence which I believe no man
alive would have done, except Mr. Halifax."

And the gentleman who spoke--the same I had seen outside in his
curricle--held out a friendly hand.

"I see you do not remember me. My name is Ravenel."

"Lord Ravenel!"

John uttered this exclamation--and no more. I saw that