k, only to see that the door is as firmly closed as
ever; I read all the morning papers, and they tell me that the bank will
be opened as usual at ten. I know better, and all I meet are sorrowing.
One melancholy depositor, who tells me that the bank has all the money he
has taken this summer and his pension besides, assures me that the bank
will open at twelve. I pass two hours later, and it is still shut.
Women are weeping as they see ruin staring them in the face. Woe to me;
my butcher calls for his little account. I have to ask him to call
again. I see the tax-gatherer eyeing me from afar, likewise the
shoemaker; but I rush inside to find that the midday mail has arrived,
bringing me a letter from town, as follows: "With respect to your cheque
on Brown's Bank, received yesterday, I regret to hear this day of the
suspension of the bank. Under these circumstances your cheque will not
be cleared, so that we shall have to debit your account with it." This
is pleasant. I have another cheque sent by the same post as the other.
I begin to fear on that account. Happily, no more letters of that kind
come in, and I take another turn in the open air. Every one looks grave.
There are little knots of men standing like conspirators in every street.
They are trying to comfort one another. "Oh, it will be all right," I
hear them exclaim; but they look as if they did not believe what they
said, and felt it was all wrong. Now and then one steals away towards
the bank, but the door is still shut, and he comes back gloomier-looking
than ever. I am growing sad myself. I have not seen a smile or heard a
pleasant word to-day, except from my neighbour, who chuckles over the
fact that his account is overdrawn. He laughs on the other side of his
mouth, however, when he realises the fact that he has cheques he has not
sent in. Another day comes, and I know my fate. Some banks have agreed
to come to the rescue. They will pay all bank-notes in full, and will
make advances not exceeding 15s. in the pound in respect of credit
accounts as may be necessary. Happily, our little town is safe. Another
day or two of this strain on our credit must have thrown us all into a
general smash. This is good as far as it goes, but I fail to see why the
holder of one of Brown's banknotes is to have his money in full, while I
am to accept a reduction of five shillings in the pound or more.
However, I have no alternative. I would not mind the red