Mrs. Brandon was sitting at the window with her work in her hand; but it had fallen listlessly in her lap, and on her face was a look of painful preoccupation. Opposite her sat her daughter Mary, Ben's only sister, already referred to. "Don't worry so, mother," said Mary; "you will make yourself sick." "I cannot help it, Mary," said Mrs. Brandon. "I can't help worrying about Ben. He has been gone a week now, and Heaven knows what he has suffered. He may be dead." "No, mother," said Mary, who had more of her father's strength than her mother's gentleness. "He is not dead, you may depend upon that." "But he had no money, that I know of. How could he live?" "Ben can take care of himself better than most boys of his age." "But think of a boy of ten going out in the world by himself!" "There are many boys of ten who have to do it, mother." "What could the poor boy do?" "He might suffer a little; but if he does, he will the sooner come home." "I wish he might," said Mrs. Brandon, with a sigh. "I think your father does very wrong not to go after him." "He wouldn't know where to go. Besides, he has advertised." "I hope Ben will not see the advertisement. Poor boy! he would feel hurt to think that we cared so little for him as to offer only one dollar for his return." "He will know you had nothing to do with the advertisement, mother; you may be sure of that." "Yes, he knows me too well for that. I would give all I have to have him back." "I want him back too," said Mary. "He is my only brother, and of course I love him; but I don't think it will do him any harm to suffer a little as a punishment for going away." "You were always hard upon the poor boy, Mary," said Mrs. Brandon. "No, I am not hard; but I see his faults, and I want him to correct them. It is you who have been too indulgent." "If I have been, it is because you and your father have been too much the other way." There was a brief pause, then Mrs. Brandon said, "Can you think of any place, Mary, where Ben would be likely to go?" "Yes, I suppose he went to Philadelphia. When a boy runs away from home, he naturally goes to the nearest city." "I have a great mind to go up to-morrow." "What good would it do, mother?" "I might meet him in the street." "There is not much chance of that. I shouldn't wonder if by this time he had gone to sea." "Gone to sea!" repeated Mrs. Brandon, turning pale. "What makes you think so? Did he ever speak of such a thing to you?" "Yes, he once threatened to run away to sea, when I did something that did not suit him." "Oh, I hope not. I have heard that boys are treated very badly on board ship. Besides, he might get drowned." "I am not sure whether a good sea-voyage might not be the best thing for him," said strong-minded Mary. "But suppose he should be ill-treated?" "It might take the pride out of him, and make him a better boy." "I never get much satisfaction from you, Mary. I don't see how you can be so harsh."