rung the hand of his faithful
head-clerk, Mr Ward, who had himself suffered severely by the failure
of the bank; and then, scarcely venturing to speak, set off to come
home.

That home he never reached alive. Between the station and his house he
was seen to fall, and being carried into the nearest shop, immediately
breathed his last. Sad and almost overwhelming was the account which
was brought us. I will not enter into the particulars, with which my
readers generally cannot be interested.

Deep was our grief at our kind father's loss. We were left also almost
penniless. He had insured his life, but by some unaccountable neglect
of his trustees, we could not benefit by the insurance. Had Alfred been
at home, we should, it appeared, have been placed above want, at all
events. A considerable sum of money had been left him by his godfather,
the interest of which was to be paid over to our father or mother for
his use from the time he was sixteen. In case of his death, it was to
go to another godson of the same old gentleman. Unless, therefore, the
trustees in whose names the capital was invested were assured that he
was alive, they, of course, could not venture to pay our mother the
money.

After our first burst of grief, was over, and we could talk with some
calmness, I told my mother of the idea which had so long occupied my
mind, and besought her to allow me to carry it into execution. Herbert,
it was very clear, was not so well fitted for the undertaking as I was.
Somebody, I argued, ought to go, and as I had long set my heart on the
work, and thought, or fancied that I had thought, of all the
difficulties I should have to encounter, I was better fitted for it than
anybody else. I would also visit my grandfather in the Mauritius, and
he certainly would give me important assistance in tracing out my
brother. Steadily and strenuously I pressed the point, till at length
my mother came entirely into my view of the case, and gave me her full
permission to set off, and to make such arrangements as I thought
necessary. As soon as she had done this, though her fast falling tears
told me how much the effort cost her, a load appeared to be taken off my
heart. I felt as if I had at once grown into a man, and was about to
begin the serious business of life. Scarcely a fortnight had elapsed
after my father's funeral before it was arranged that I was to go. How
to carry out my purpose was the next consideration.