."

On returning to the parlor, where Harry and Emma were seated, Dr.
Humphries called him aside and related what he had heard from Elsy.
The young man listened attentively, and was very much shocked to hear
of Mrs. Wentworth's being imprisoned for theft. He knew that Alfred
was the soul of honor, and he could not conceive that the wife of his
friend would be guilty of such an offense.

"It is impossible to believe such a thing," he said, after Dr.
Humphries had concluded, "I cannot believe that the wife of such a man
as Alfred Wentworth would commit an offense of such a nature; it must
be some one else, and not Mrs. Wentworth."

"That we can find out this evening," observed the Doctor. "Let us
first call at the cabin of my old slave and find out whether the child
in her keeping is one of Mrs. Wentworth's children."

"How will we be able to discover," asked Harry. "It appears by your
account that the boy is a mere infant, and he could hardly be expected
to give an account of himself or his parents."

"I have removed any difficulty of that nature," replied Dr. Humphries,
"Elsy will accompany us to the cabin, and she will easily recognize
the child if he is the son of your friend."

"You are right," Harry remarked; and then continued, "I trust he may
not be, for Alfred would almost go crazy at the knowledge that his
wife was the inmate of a prison on the charge of robbery."

"I hope so myself, for the sake of your friend," said Doctor
Humphries, "Mr. Wentworth appears to be quite a gentleman, and I
should greatly regret his finding his wife in such an unfortunate
position as the woman in prison is represented to be."

"I know the spirit of the man," remarked Harry, "he is sensitive to
dishonor, no matter in what form or shape it may come, and the
knowledge that his wife was charged with robbery would be a fearful
blow to his pride, stern and unyielding as it is."

"If it is his wife, and she has committed a theft, I pity her, indeed;
for I am sure if she is the lady her husband represents, nothing but
the most dire necessity could have induced her to descend to crime."

"Ah, sir," replied Harry, "Heaven only knows if it is not through
want. Alfred Wentworth feared that his wife was living in penury, for
he knew that she was without adequate means. If she has unfortunately
been allowed to suffer, and her children to want with her, what
gratification is it for him to know that he was proving his loyalty to
the S