"Heaven," continued her brother, "is speaking to us through one of its ministers in this letter! Let us listen in reverent humility!" They remained silent for some moments, Mr. Aubrey re-perusing the long and closely written letter of which he had been speaking. Presently he heard a knock at the street door--an ordinary single knock--such as was by no means unusual at that period of the morning; yet he scarce knew why--it disconcerted him. He kept, however, his eye upon the letter, while he heard Fanny opening the door--then a word or two whispered--after which the parlor door was hastily opened, and Fanny stood there, pale as death, and unable, evidently from fright, to speak--a heavy step was heard in the passage--and then there stood behind the terror-stricken girl a tall stout man in a drab great-coat, with a slouched hat, and a thick walking-stick in his hand--looking over her shoulder into the parlor, whose dismayed occupants soon shared the panic of poor Fanny. "Beg your pardon, sir," said he, civilly advancing into the room, and removing his hat--"is your name Charles Aubrey?" "It is, sir," said Mr. Aubrey, rising from his chair--by which time a second man was standing at the door. "You're my prisoner, sir," said the man, stepping close up to the wretched Aubrey, and touching him on the shoulder, at the same time holding out a thin slip of paper--the warrant by virtue of which he was then acting. The moment that he advanced towards Mr. Aubrey, a dreadful shriek burst from Mrs. Aubrey and Kate, who sprang forward, and threw their arms wildly round him. He implored them to restrain their feelings--though evidently greatly agitated himself. "Will you let me look at your warrant?" said he, mildly, to the man who had arrested him, and remained standing close beside him. Mr. Aubrey, glancing over the fatal slip of paper, saw that he was arrested for fourteen hundred pounds and upwards at the suit of Messrs. Quirk, Gammon, and Snap.[6] "You see, sir, it's only my duty to do this here," said the officer, respectfully, apparently touched by the agony of the two beautiful women who still clung wildly round one about to be torn ruthlessly from their arms;--"don't take on so, ladies--there 's no great harm done yet." "For mercy's sake, Agnes! Kate! as you love me!--Be calm! You afflict me beyond measure," said Mr. Aubrey, who, though he had grown very pale, yet preserved under the circumstances a remarkable degree of self-possession. 'T was, however, a scene which he had been endeavoring to realize to himself, and prepare for daily, if not hourly, for the last week. "Oh, mercy! mercy!--for God's sake have mercy on him! On us!"--exclaimed Mrs. Aubrey and Kate. "Oh, good men! kind men!--have mercy!" cried Kate, desperately--"What are you going to do with him?" "No harm, miss, you may depend on 't--only he must go with us, seeing we 're _obligated_ to take him."