ied conviction with them. They
fell on the riven heart of Walter like balm, and restored a measure of
peace to it. Before he could make any answer, a quick knocking, and the
uplifting of the feeble voice from below, indicated that the old man was
impatient of the girl's delay. She hastily lifted the pocket-book,
relocked the safe door, and, with a nod to Walter, ran down-stairs.

'What kept you so long chattering up-stairs?' queried the old man, with
all the peevishness of a sick person. 'You don't care a penny-piece,
either of you, though I died this very moment.'

'Oh, Uncle Abel, hold your tongue; you know that is not true,' she said
quickly. 'Walter is in great trouble this morning. Something has
happened to his sister.'

'Ay, what is it, eh?'

'I don't know exactly, but she has left home.'

'Ay, ay, I'm not surprised; she was a bold hussy, and had no respect for
anything in this world. And is Walter taking on badly?'

'Very badly. I never saw him so distressed.'

'Well, it's hard on a chap trying to do well. It's a hopeless case
trying to fly out of an ill nest.'

'Uncle Abel, you must not say that. Nothing is hopeless, if only we are
on the right side,' said Gladys stoutly, though inwardly her heart
re-echoed sadly that dark creed.

'Well, well, you're young, and nothing seems impossible,' he said
good-naturedly. 'Here, take off this string. My fingers are as feckless
as a thread.'

Gladys opened the pocket-book, which was stuffed full of old papers. The
old man fingered them lovingly and with careful touch, until he found
the one he sought. It was a somewhat long document, written on blue,
official-looking paper, and attested by several seals. He read it from
beginning to end with close attention, and gave a grunt of satisfaction
when he laid it down.

'Is Wat busy?' he asked then.

'He has not much heart for his work to-day, uncle,'

'Cry him down; I've a message for him. Or, stop, you'd better go
yourself, in case anybody comes to the warehouse. Do you know St.
Vincent Street?'

'Yes, uncle.'

'You don't know Fordyce & Fordyce, the lawyers' office, do you?'

'No, but I can find it.'

'Very well; go just now and ask for old Mr. Fordyce. If he isn't in,
just come back.'

'And what am I to say to him?'

'Tell him to come here just as soon as ever he can. I want to see him,
and there is not any time to lose.'

The girl's lip quivered. A strange feeling of approaching desolation was
with