after nightfall. A single gas-burner threw a dim, uncertain
light over the old desk, and lit up the figure of a tall, gray-headed
man, who was bending over it. He had round, stooping shoulders, and
long, spindling limbs. One of his large feet, encased in a thick,
square-toed shoe, rested on the round of the desk, the other, which was
planted squarely on the floor, upheld his spare, gaunt frame. His face
was thin and long, and two deep, black lines under his eyes contrasted
strangely with the pallid whiteness of his features. His clothes were of
the fashion of some years ago, and had, no doubt, served long as his
'Sunday best,' before being degraded to daily duty. They were of plain
black, and though not shabby, were worn and threadbare, and of decidedly
economical appearance. Every thing about him, indeed, wore an economical
look. His scant coat-tails, narrow pants, and short waistcoat, showed
that the cost of each inch of material had been counted, while his thin
hair, brushed carefully over his bald head, had not a lock to spare; and
even his large, sharp bones were covered with only just enough flesh to
hold them comfortably together. He had stood there till his eye was dim
and his step feeble, and though he had, for twenty years--when handing
in his semi-annual trial-balances to the head of the house--declared
that each one was his last, every body said he would continue to stand
there till his own trial-balance was struck, and his earthly accounts
were closed forever.

As I entered, he turned his mild blue eye upon me, and taking my hand
warmly in his, exclaimed:

'My dear boy'--I was nearly forty--'I am glad to see you.'

'I am glad to see _you_, David.'

'Why, bless me, Mr. Kirke, is that you?' exclaimed a much younger man,
springing from his seat near the other, and grasping me by both hands.
'What has brought you to Boston?'

'Business, Frank. I've just arrived, and go back to-morrow. Come! my
wife is in the carriage at the door, and wants you to spend the evening
with us.'

'I can't--I'm very sorry,' and he added, in a lower tone, '_she_ has
just heard of her father's death, and goes home to-morrow. I have
engaged to pass the evening with her.'

'Her father dead! how was it?'

'He was thrown from his horse, and died the same day. She knew nothing
of it till yesterday. I can not neglect her now. I will spend to-morrow
with mother.'

He always called her _mother_, though he was not her son. He had don