DOCTOR JOHNS. XLIII. The foreign letters rarely came singly; and Adele had already accomplished the reading of her own missive, in which Maverick had spoken of his having taken occasion to address, by the same mail, a line to the Doctor on matters of business, "in regard to which," (he had said,) "don't, my dear Adele, be too inquisitive, even if you observe that it is cause of some perplexity to the good Doctor. Indeed, in such case, I hope you will contribute to his cheer, as I am sure you have often done. We owe him a large debt of gratitude, my child, and I rely upon you to add your thankfulness to mine, and speak for both." "You look troubled, New Papa," said Adele. "Can I help you? Eh, Doctor?" And she came toward him in her playful manner, and patted the old gentleman on the shoulder, while he sat with his face buried in his hands. "I don't think papa writes very cheerfully, do you? Eh,--Doctor--Benjamin--Johns?" (tapping him with more spirit.)--"Why, New Papa, what does this mean?" For the Doctor had raised his head now, and regarded her with a look of mingled yearning and distrust that was wholly new to her. "Pray, New Papa, what is it?" The old gentlemen--so utterly guileless--was puzzled for an answer; but his ingenuity came to his relief at length. "No, Adaly, your father does not write cheerfully,--certainly not; he speaks of the probable loss of his fortune." Now Adele, with her parsonage training, had really very little idea of fortune. "That means I won't be rich, New Papa, I suppose. But I don't believe it; he will have money enough, I'm sure. It don't disturb me, New Papa,--not one whit." The Doctor was so poor a hand at duplicity that he hardly knew what to say, but meantime was keeping his eye with the same dazed look upon the charming Adele. "You look so oddly, New Papa,--indeed you do! You have some sermon in your head, now haven't you, that I have broken in upon?--some sermon about--about--let us see." And she moved toward his desk, where the letter of Maverick still lay unfolded. The Doctor, lost in thought, did not observe her movement until she had the letter fairly in her hand; then he seized it with a suddenness of gesture that instantly caught the attention of Adele. A swift, deep color ran over her face. "It is for my eye only, Adaly," said the Doctor, excitedly, folding it and placing it in his pocket. Adele, with her curiosity strangely piqued, said,-- "I remember now, papa told me as much." "What did he tell you, my child?" "Not to be too curious about some business affairs of which he had written you." "Ah!" said the Doctor, with a sigh of relief. "But why shouldn't I be? Tell me, New Papa," (toying now with the silvered hair upon the forehead of the old gentleman,) "is he really in trouble?" "No new trouble, my child,--no new trouble." For a moment Adele's thought flashed upon that mystery of the mother she had never seen, and an uncontrollable sadness came over her.