The meeting was shortly after concluded by a temperance song, and a good prayer by the elder minister. As the audience crowded out of the door, Mr. Clapp nodded again to the sailor, when passing near him. "Who is that man, William?" asked Mrs. Clapp, as they reached the street. "It is a person in whom I am warmly interested--an injured man." "Indeed!--one of your clients I suppose." "Yes; I am now pledged to serve him to the best of my ability." "He looks like a sailor." "He is a sailor, just returned from a three years' whaling voyage. You will be surprised, Catherine, when you hear that man's story; but the time has come when it must be revealed to the world." "You quite excite my curiosity; I hope you will tell me the story?" "Yes; you shall hear it. But where are your sister and Charles; are they going home with us?" "No; I am very sorry; but they told me at the meeting they could not stay, as they had come over in Mrs. Van Horne's carriage. It is a pity, for I had made some ice-cream, and gathered some raspberries, expressly for them; and we have hardly seen Charles since he arrived. But Patsey wants us to spend the day at the grey house, to-morrow, children and all." Mr. Clapp assented to this arrangement; although he said he should not be able to do more than go over himself for his family in the evening, on account of business. Kate had only her husband and Willie to share her excellent ice-cream and beautiful raspberries, on that warm evening; the trio did justice, however, to these nice refreshments; and little Willie only wished he could sign a temperance pledge every evening, if he could sit up later than usual, and eat an excellent supper after it. After the little fellow had been sent to bed, and his mother had taken a look at her younger children, who were sleeping sweetly in their usual places, the lawyer and his wife were left alone in the parlour. It was a charming moon-light evening, though very warm; and Kate having lowered the lamp, threw herself into a rocking-chair near the window; while Mr. Clapp, who had had rather a fatiguing day, was stretched out on the sofa. "It is early yet, William; suppose you tell the story you promised me, about your client, the sailor." "I don't much like to tell it, Catherine; and yet it is time you knew something about it, for we must proceed to action immediately." "Oh, tell me, by all means; you have really made me quite curious. You know very well that I can keep a secret." "Certainly; and I request you will not mention the facts I shall relate, to any one, for some time; not until we have taken the necessary legal steps." "Of course not, if you wish it; and now for the story. You said this poor man had been injured." "Grossly injured." "In what manner?" "He has been treated in the most unjustifiable manner by his nearest relatives. His reputation has been injured, and he has been tyrannically deprived of a very large property."