"Louise and Mrs. Hilary sent their love, and they all want to do anything they can; and--and I told Mr. Hilary what we were going to try; and--he said he would speak to his father about it; and--Oh, Suzette, I'm afraid I've done more than I ought!" Suzette was silent, and then, "No," she said, "I can't see what harm there could be in it." "He said," Adeline pursued with joyful relief, "he wouldn't let his father speak to the rest about it, till we were ready; and I know he'll do all he can for us. Don't you?" Sue answered, "I don't see what harm it can do for him to speak to his father. I hope, Adeline," she added, with the severity Adeline had dreaded, "you didn't ask it as a favor from him?" "No, no! I didn't indeed, Sue! It came naturally. He offered to do it." "Well," said Suzette, with a sort of relaxation, and she fell back in the chair where she had been sitting. "I don't see," said Adeline, with an anxious look at the girl's worn face, "but what we'd both better have the doctor." "Ah, the doctor!" cried Suzette. "What can the doctor do for troubles like ours?" She put up her hands to her face, and bowed herself on them, and sobbed, with the first tears she had shed since the worst had come upon them. The company's counsel submitted Putney's overtures, as he expected, to the State's attorney, in the hypothetical form, and the State's attorney, as Putney expected, dealt with the actuality. He said that when Northwick's friends communicated with him and ascertained his readiness to surrender the money he had with him, and to make restitution in every possible way, it would be time to talk of a _nolle prosequi_. In the meantime, by the fact of absconding he was in contempt of court. He must return and submit himself for trial, and take the chance of a merciful sentence. There could be no other answer, he said, and he could give none for Putney to carry back to the defaulter's daughters. Suzette received it in silence, as if she had nerved herself up to bear it so. Adeline had faltered between her hopes and fears, but she had apparently decided how she should receive the worst, if the worst came. "Well, then," she said, "we must give up the place. You can get the papers ready, Mr. Putney." "I will do whatever you say, Miss Northwick." "Yes, and I don't want you to think that I don't want to do it. It's my doing now; and if my sister was all against it, I should wish to do it all the same." Matt Hilary learned from his father the result of the conference with the State's attorney, and he came up to Hatboro' the next day, to see Putney on his father's behalf, and to express the wish of his family that Mr. Putney would let them do anything he could think of for his clients. He got his message out bunglingly, with embarrassed circumlocution and repetition; but this was what it came to in the end.