isable.

The circumlocution and indefiniteness of this letter led me to infer
that there was something behind it which the writer had not stated. It
soon appeared that my friend agreed with me in this inference. I could
not but smile at the coolness with which he quoted the common phrase to
the effect that there was an African in the fence.

"I fear it is the old story over again," he said; "but I am glad I have
done my duty to myself and to my dear mother, whatever the consequences
may be."

After some discussion, it was agreed that I should call at Mr. Allen's
office (he was a lawyer) and endeavor to obtain from him a statement of
all he might know of the new arrangement announced in the letter which
had been received. I lost no time in entering upon my mission. But I was
compelled to make several applications at the office before it was
possible for Mr. Allen to give me a hearing. A late hour of the
business-day was, however, finally assigned to me, and just as the gas
was lighted I found myself by appointment in a private room used for
consultation, sitting face to face with Mr. Allen. I briefly stated my
errand, and presented the trustee's letter to him as a more complete
explanation of my verbal statement.

"Yes, I see," said Mr. Allen thoughtfully, after reading the letter and
returning it to me. And he tilted back his chair, clasped his hands
behind his head, and gazed for some minutes reflectively at the ceiling.
I sat quietly and studied his face and the objects in the room. He was a
large man, squarely built, with straight, strongly-marked features, blue
eyes, and sandy hair. In the midst of his books and papers he seemed to
me a sterner man than I had previously thought him. "Yes, I see," he
repeated, at the close of his period of reflection. And then he removed
his hands from his head and placed them on his knees, and brought his
chair squarely to the floor, and, leaning forward toward me, looked
keenly in my face, and said, "Did I understand that you were one of
those people,--that is, similar to Mr. Brown?"

"How, sir?" said I in bewilderment. "How do you mean?"

A moment later the purport of the question, which I had in a strange way
seemed to feel as it was coming, dawned fully upon me, or I should
rather say struck me, so sharp and sudden was the shock I experienced.
If there was anything in which I was secure and of which I had reason to
be proud, it was my Puritan and English ancestry. As the b