The head of Eveline sunk upon the breast of her sister, and her tears continued to flow; but the deep agitation of her bosom had subsided. An hour after, and she was calm; but her face was pale, and the marks of suffering were upon it. She was still alone with her sister. They had been sitting silent for some time, when Eveline said-- “I am distressed in doubt of the cause of this sudden change manifested toward me. What can it mean, Eunice? Something dreadful has been said about me.” “It may be nothing about you, in particular, sister.” “About all of us? What can be said about all of us?” The eyes of Eunice grew dim as she replied-- “Have you noticed how distressed father has looked for some time?” “Yes, ever since we heard of brother’s death.” “But there is another cause besides that for his distress of mind, Evie; I am sure of it. Grief for even those most tenderly beloved, is softened by time, but father looks more troubled every day. _Troubled_--yes, that is the word. It is not grief that bows him down, sister, depend upon it, but trouble.” “Trouble? What can he have to trouble him?” “Much, I fear. You know the United States Bank failed a few months ago, and that ever since much has been said in the papers about the terrible destruction in private fortunes that it occasioned. Do you know that I have been impressed, ever since that event, with the idea that father has sustained a heavy loss?” “What could have put that into your head, Eunie?” asked Eveline. “I will tell you. A good while ago, I remember hearing father say to a gentleman with whom he was talking, that he believed he would retire from business and invest every dollar he had in the stock of the United States Bank, which he considered the safest security in the country. You know he has given up business; and is it not more than probable that he has done what he then proposed to do?” “You frighten me, sister!” exclaimed Eveline, the expression of her face not belieing her words. “Do you think he has lost every thing?” “I know nothing about it, Eveline. I only state my fears, for which I think there are too good grounds. Ever since the failure of the Bank, this has been in my mind, although I have never breathed it before. Carefully, since that time, have I read all that has been said about the Bank, and particularly noticed the price at which the stock has sold. It is now down to twenty cents a share, the par value of which is one hundred dollars. If father really did own much of this stock, and has kept it until now, in hope of a better price, you can see how heavily he must have lost. And if he still holds on to it, and the price still keeps going down, he may lose nearly every dollar he is worth.” “Dreadful! What will become of us all?” With a meek, patient, humble expression of face, Eunice raised her eyes and said, in a low, earnest voice-- “The Lord will provide.” Then, with a look of encouragement, and even a smile upon her lips, she added--