ng to bed. He was
smoking, and like myself busy with his own reflections. It seemed to me
that he looked tired and worn. I had observed it several times of late.
Was I certain that I was right in the choice I was tempted to make? But
if I did not marry Mr. Spence, what was the prospect before me? What did
my father wish me to do with his money?

As though he understood my silent question, he turned to me suddenly and
said,--

"As you may remember, Virginia, I told you--it must be more than two
years ago, now--that I was a very rich man. The same is true to-day,
though, owing to the severe depression from which all classes of
property have suffered during that period, I am no longer as wealthy as
I was. Indeed, it has been only by unflagging attention and care that I
have been able to avoid very serious losses. But let that pass.
Confidence is restored, and the worst is over. My affairs are in a shape
now where further depreciation is well-nigh impossible, and you will
have all the money that you can possibly need when I am gone."

He paused a moment, and I hastened to express my concern that he had
been worried.

"That is all done with now, I hope. I only mentioned it in order that
you should know what you have to expect,--and because I have been
making up my accounts for the first of the year. No one can tell what
another year may bring forth. I am not so strong as I was, I think."

He spoke without emotion; but there was something in his tone that
prompted me to go to him, and kneeling by his side to take his hand in
mine.

"Are you not well, father?"

"Oh, yes. But when a man has worked hard all his days and gets to be
sixty-five years old, the machine does not run so smoothly as it used.
That is all. Some day it will stop all of a sudden, just as it did in my
father's case. He was worn out when he died; and that is what I shall
be. In this country, we most of us have only time to get together our
millions and die." He spoke with a smile, and gently stroked my hair.
"But we expect our children to make a good use of the leisure we have
won for them. You begin where I leave off, Virginia. I had hoped to be
able to see a great deal of you during the last few years, but just at
the moment when I was about to lay aside the harness came the period of
depression. It is very difficult, in this country, for parents to know
their children intimately. Neither party has time for the operation.
You have your interests, a