aid about the bond, so far as I know.
As a general thing women don't know much about business, but Miss
Norah has taught me a thing or two. I haven't lost anything on your
bond, Miss Sarah, and I expect to make before I get through."

"And you are sure that she--"

"She didn't lose anything, either,--if that is what you mean. That
bond was worth to me what I paid for it, and that is all I can say on
the subject, unless--" Giant Despair hesitated. "Years ago your
brother saved me a good deal of money at one time and another. He was
a good man. I have sometimes wished I had taken his advice. If you
aren't satisfied, just remember that."

There had been a time when Miss Sarah's brother, Wayland's father, had
managed Mr. Goodman's law business; but the relations had come to a
sudden end. The only explanation Mr. Leigh had ever made to his sister
was that he did not care for certain of the drug company's methods.

"Then all I can do is to thank you most warmly," she said as he rose.

"If I have helped you, Miss Sarah, I am glad. As I say, I have not
lost anything, and I am a useless old codger, anyhow."

Miss Sarah wiped some tears away; she was far from strong yet. "I
think it was a conspiracy between you and Miss Pennington, but I'll
have to let it go."

"I am in good company, at any rate," said Giant Despair.

James Mandeville waited for Mr. Goodman at the gate, and the two
walked away together, hand in hand, the little boy taking great pains
to point out all obstacles in the path, chattering ceaselessly, his
radiant face lifted constantly to the rugged one so far above him.
Miss Sarah watched them and smiled.

As for Mr. Goodman, he felt a strange sense of exhilaration,--so much
so, that when they met an organ-grinder and a monkey (spring being now
at hand) he contributed a dime instead of the usual five-cent piece.

A week later he went to a hospital to have his eye operated on, and
during the weeks of helplessness that followed he was the recipient of
an amount of attention that greatly surprised him.

The hospital was only a few blocks away from the Terrace, and hardly a
day passed without a visit from some of his neighbors. Marion, Norah,
and Alexina took turns in reading to him; and James Mandeville came
whenever he could induce any one to bring him.

In the same corridor was a man recovering from a stroke of paralysis,
who, rolling himself back and forth in his chair, occasionally
encountered Mr. Good