d be, and see 't yer
fam'ly 's kep' comf'table while ye're away.' But that's jest what ye
didn't say, and it's jest what ye didn't do. All the time Reuben's been
sarvin' his country, he's had his debts and his family expenses to worry
him; and you know it's been all Sophrony could do, by puttin' forth all
her energies, and strainin' every narve, to keep herself and children
from goin' hungry and ragged. You've helped 'em a little, now and then,
in driblets, it's true; but, dear me!" exclaimed Miss Beswick; and she
smote her hands, palms downwards, upon her lap, with a look and gesture
which signified that words utterly failed to express her feelings on the
subject.

Mrs. Ducklow, who, since her annihilation, had scarcely ventured to look
up, sat biting her lips, drawing breaths of suppressed anger and
impatience, and sewing the patch to the trousers and to her own apron
under them. There was an awful silence, broken only by the clock
ticking, and Mr. Ducklow lifting his knife and fork, and letting them
fall again. At last he forced himself to speak.

"Wal, you've read us a pretty smart lectur', Miss Beswick, I must say! I
can't consaive what should make ye take such an interest in our affairs;
but it's very kind in ye,--very kind, to be sure!"

"Take an interest! Haven't I seen Sophrony's struggles with them
children? And haven't I seen Reuben come home this very night, a sick
man, with a broken constitution, and no prospect before him but to give
up his farm, lose all he has paid, and be thrown upon the charities of
the world with his wife and children? And if the charities of friends
are so cold, what can he expect of the charities of the world? Take an
interest! I wish you took half as much! Here I've sot half an hour, and
you haven't thought to ask how Reuben appeared, or anything about him!"

"May-be there's a good reason for that, Miss Beswick. 'Twas on my lips
to ask half a dozen times; but you talked so fast, you wouldn't give me
a chance."

"Well, I'm glad you've got some excuse, though a poor one!" said Miss
Beswick.

"How is Reuben?" Mrs. Ducklow meekly inquired.

"All broken to pieces,--a mere shadder of what he was. He's had his old
wound troublin' him agin; then he's had the fever, that came within one
of takin' him out o' the world. He was in the hospitals, ye know, for
two months or more; but finally the doctors see 't his only chance was
to be sent home, weak as he was. A sergeant that was comin