out again, he came to see me,
though he started as soon as he received my letter. I had never seen
him looking so well; and certainly I should never have suspected that
he was the degraded sot whom I had met in front of the Planters' Hotel,
in St. Louis. He was dressed in sober black, and was neat, and even
elegant, in his appearance. He had grown moderately fleshy under the
regimen of total abstinence, and all the toddy-blossoms had disappeared
from his face.

We had a long talk in my chamber, and he gave me such advice as the
occasion demanded. He thought that, as I had established myself in the
good opinion of the firm, I had better stay with them, especially as
the salary was very handsome.

"I shall hardly be able to leave the prohibited topic untouched," I
added.

"Your own self-respect should induce you to do that. If your
grandfather and your uncle will not hear you, there is no law to compel
them to do so. Do you know when your mother intends to return?"

"I do not; I cannot even learn where she is; but Marian has promised to
ascertain for me. I mean to stay with the firm about a year longer. If
my mother don't come by that time, I shall go for her. I will find
her."

"Well, a trip to Europe will do you no harm; but she will probably
return before the year is out."

We decided to wait the turn of future events because we could not help
ourselves, rather than because we were willing. On the following
Monday, I took my place in the counting-room again, and it was Desk and
Debit once more. My father called there during the day to take leave of
me. It so happened that both Mr. Richard Collingsby and his father came
in while he was there. They looked at him, but did not recognize him.
They appeared to think they knew him, and spoke to him.

"I know your face very well," said Richard, "but I can't call you by
name."

"My name is Edward Farringford," replied my father.

"And he is my father," I added.

"I am glad to see you looking so well, Edward," said the old gentleman,
coldly. "I hear you are doing well; but don't say a word to me about
that silly story."

"I don't intend to do so. I wish to say, sir, that while I plead guilty
to all you have charged upon me in the past, I have no occasion to ask
any favors for the future, except your kind regard. I wish to see my
wife--"

"Never, sir! Never!" protested Mr. Collingsby, senior, as he rushed
into his counting-room.

"I wish you well, Ned," added