Eunice spoke with enthusiasm and confidence while her cheeks glowed and her eyes sparkled. Neither Eveline nor her mother said a word to check the newly-awakened hope that warmed her bosom, but rather replied in words of encouragement, although they felt little themselves. Acting from this new impulse, which the distressed state of her father’s mind had awakened, Eunice dressed herself and went out on the errand proposed, about an hour after he had returned to his store. “I hope it may do some good,” said the mother, despondingly; “but I expect no such result, although I would not have said so to discourage Eunice for the world. Poor girl! She is doing all she can, and sacrificing much. It is sad to think it will all be in vain.” “It may not be, mother,” returned Eveline. “There is no telling what her perseverance may accomplish. Is it not said, that where there is a will there is a way?” “It is; but all sayings are not true.” “No; not to the full extent. But a saying like this means a great deal. The will inspires to effort, and effort does not always go unrewarded.” “I fear it will in this case; there is so little in favor of a hoped-for result.” “It seems to me there is much, mother,” replied Eveline, appearing to gain confidence, while her mother desponded. “It is not possible that such earnest self-devotion as Eunice manifests can go unrewarded. Heaven must smile upon it.” “I pray that Heaven may smile upon it,” said Mrs. Townsend, fervently. “Heaven will smile upon it.” Eveline’s voice trembled, and the tears came, unbidden, to her eyes. An hour had not gone by since Eunice went out, and Eveline and her mother still sat as she had left them, feeling no inclination to do any thing, or even to converse after the few remarks her departure had elicited, when they heard the street door open, and her feet come bounding along the passage, and up the stairs. There was hope, even joy in the sound of those footsteps, that sent a thrilling sensation through the breasts of the waiting mother and sister. An instant after, and the door of the room where they were sitting was thrown open, and Eunice, flushed and agitated, sprung forward, and sinking down beside her mother, buried her face in her lap, and sobbed and laughed half hysterically. It was some time before she was able to control her feelings sufficiently to tell the good fortune the reader has already anticipated for her. For the jewelry, she had received eight hundred dollars; and for the piano, seven hundred--fifteen hundred dollars in all. CHAPTER XX. SURPRISE--UNEXPECTED RELIEF--GRATITUDE.