This all felt so oppressively that nothing was replied. More than an hour passed, before the minds of the deeply-disappointed mother and daughters recovered in any degree from the depression into which the attempts to dispose of the piano and jewelry had thrown them. They had counted so fully upon obtaining a sum sufficient to meet the present want, that the failure to realize any thing above a mere trifle, compared to what was needed, broke down their spirits completely. The case seemed hopeless. At last, Eunice, whose mind was always first to react, said, “Perhaps I may be able to get two hundred dollars on the piano. The auctioneer appeared inclined to meet my wishes for a larger sum than he at first offered, but he had, I suppose, to consult others. Two hundred dollars may be of great service to father. A little is always better than nothing. And now it occurs to me, that there are stores where they lend money on deposits of jewelry and other articles. Without doubt, a couple of hundred dollars could be obtained on Eveline’s pin, and a hundred dollars on the watch and other things. This, on the supposition that two hundred dollars are obtained on the piano, will give us five hundred dollars, which must be a great help to father.” “But you must remember,” said the mother, “that the pin and watches will be forfeited, at the expiration of a certain time, if the money borrowed upon them is not returned; and the possibility of returning the amount is very doubtful. It would not do to sell Eveline’s costly pin for two hundred dollars.” “If the sacrifice will save father’s business, it will be cheaply made,” replied Eveline, quickly. “But of that we are not sure,” said Mrs. Townsend. “Five hundred dollars may not be enough. He has, you know, twelve hundred to pay. Under these circumstances, I think it would be wrong to run the risk of losing property worth eight or nine hundred dollars, in order to obtain two or three hundred.” In this view, the daughters could not but acquiesce. Soon after, Mr. Townsend came home to dinner, looking even more troubled than he had looked in the morning. He endeavored to rally himself in the presence of his family, but was unable to do so to any great extent. Eveline and Eunice tried to be cheerful, but the events of the morning were too vividly present to their minds. Mr. Townsend did not sit over half his usual time at the table, and left the house much earlier than usual. “Something must be done!” Eveline ejaculated, rising from the table soon after her father had retired. “What can be done?” asked the mother. “There are many other stores in the city than the two to which I applied. I feel certain that I can sell them somewhere. At least, I am determined to try, if I visit every jeweler’s store in the city. Father must have aid in this, his last extremity. We have the means in our hands of affording the aid he needs, and the means must be rendered available.”