ted that it wasn't all for this month. It must have slipped by,
somehow. And of course Mrs. Middleton had to have egg-nog and cream
and all that. He bade Elsie draw the check, feeling that they must
have paid the largest first. But Elsie's heart sank as he took up the
next envelope with Berry's name in the corner. Berry was the grocer.

"Four hundred ninety-two dollars!" he gasped. "Wait, Elsie, we'll look
them all through before we do any more. There's something wrong. Now
this goes back--let me see. Bill rendered--bill rendered--it seems to
go back a year or more. I wonder if perhaps your aunt has asked for
statements for a year in order to see what her expenditures amount
to?"--He shook his head--"No, here's a credit. And this is plain
enough 'Amount due November 1.'"

He opened the others one by one. None was so large as the grocery
bill, though that of the market was above four hundred dollars, and the
others large, the sum total being, as Elsie had foreseen, appalling.
It did not take long to discover that Mrs. Middleton was behind in her
accounts for a year or more.

It must have been hard for her husband to understand what had become of
the monthly household allowance she had had in cash regularly. Credit
was given here and there, indeed, but always in small sums. It must,
too, have been hard for John Middleton to face the facts, but he stood
the test. He looked weary and worn--he certainly grew haggard and
seemed to grow old; but no word of impatience escaped him. Indeed, he
did not appear to have an impatient thought.

"This has all been too much for your aunt, Elsie," he said finally.
"She wanted to spare me, and when the task got beyond her strength she
wouldn't give in. She has been a greater sufferer than any of us
dreamed. Apparently she has had those terrible headaches almost
constantly, hiding the pain from every one and trying to get relief by
taking those strong tablets. And no doubt these accounts gave her no
end of pain and worry, and got into confusion in spite of her."

He bowed his head in his hand and sat thus some little time, aware of
Elsie's silent sympathy. He smiled wearily when he raised it.

"We'll give it over for to-night, Elsie. I'll see what I can do
to-morrow and then we'll tackle them again. I think I shall be able to
do something, but we may have to go carefully for a time."

He hesitated.

"Kate's the most faithful soul in the world, but I doubt if sh