“That’s fair, and they or’to pay me first,” Godfrey Sheldon said, when he heard of it. “All them gimcracks without the house, will bring more’n two thousand dollars, the sum I have in the bank now. Fool that I didn’t take it all out. I’ll go at once and see ’em.” Harnessing his horse, he drove to the Greys’ residence and asked to see Mr. Grey. It was Louie who met him and told him her father was ill, and saw no one but Mr. Blake and the doctor. “Then I’ll see your mother,” Mr. Sheldon said. “She is ill, too,” was Louie’s reply. “Well, who in thunder can I see?” was the next question, roughly spoken. “Me!” Louie answered, with quiet dignity. “What can I do for you?” “Pay me my two thousand dollars,” was the rude reply, which brought the hot blood to Louie’s face; but she answered calmly: “I wish we might, but it is impossible at present.” “Why impossible? I hear your house, with its fixin’s, is for sale. Is that so?” Mr. Sheldon asked. “Yes, that is so.” “And they belong to your mother, or you?” “Yes, to mother.” “Horses, and carriages, and all?” “Yes.” “And the pianner, and wheel, and diamonds?” “Yes—the piano and wheel were mine, and are already sold, the diamonds are in Boston, to be disposed of.” “Jess so. I call that honest on your part. They all or’to fetch a nice sum, and don’t you think that, as the biggest creditor, I or’to be paid out of it? I do.” It seemed to Mr. Sheldon that Louie grew two inches in height as she replied: “The money will belong to mother and me, to do with as we please, and we shall pay the small depositors first—the poor people, who worked hard for their money, and cannot afford to lose it. What is left will go in with the assets, and you will have your share.” “Heavens and earth! Do you think I can afford to lose two thousand dollars? No, sir!” Mr. Sheldon exclaimed, beginning to get angry. “Assets! There won’t be any, if the truth is told; the way you’ve lived—four servants, and two bath-rooms, with porcelain tubs. I s’pose you keep ’em still—the hired help, I mean.” “I don’t know that you have any business to ask me that question,” Louie said, with a gleam in her eyes which warned the rude man that he was going too far. “Mebby I hain’t,” he replied, “but when a man has lost two thousand dollars, he don’t feel very fine, I tell you. Look a here, girl,” he continued, as Louie showed signs of leaving him, “I want them horses and carriage. Name a fair price, and I’ll take ’em, turnin’ it toward my debt, and mebby I’ll take the house if the figger ain’t too high.” Louie shook her head. “The poor men and women must be paid first. I have already paid some with my piano and wheel money,” she said.