Anna promised not to say any thing about her little adventure. It did really seem to her as if Providence had taken away her strength at that door-step for some kind purpose, with which it would be sacrilege for her to interfere. She had a world of faith in that old man’s power to help her, and went home, if not happy, greatly comforted. The very next morning young Gould sought an interview with his uncle, and told him the whole story about young Ward, and his own great fault regarding the Burns family. He concealed nothing, either of his former extravagant entanglements, or the last vile act which this man had perpetrated under his patronage. The old man listened in dead silence till Gould had exhausted his subject. Then he looked him quietly in the face, and spoke in his usual dry fashion. “Had you succeeded in really injuring this girl, I should have broken with you forever,” he said. “I—I never thought of injuring her. It was only a freak, a sudden fancy to know who and what she was. I hope you believe me, uncle?” “If I did not, you would have little chance to convince me, for I would not endure you in my presence an hour. Let that pass. You were about to say something more—ask something of me, I believe?” “Yes, sir, I was. Having given these people some annoyance——” “Driven them from their home, in fact,” broke in the uncle “Yes, as you say, driven them from their home. I—I should like, in short, to give them a better one.” “But that is already secured to them.” “How did you know that, uncle? Oh! I see, you have been questioning the boy. But there is something about this new home that I do not like, uncle. I think young Savage is at the bottom of that movement.” “Very likely. He seems a generous young fellow enough.” “But I cannot accept his generosity. No man shall be permitted to pay the penalty of my fault.” “No man? What if I choose to take that in, with your other expenses?” “Ah! that is another thing.” “Entirely! Well, now do not trouble yourself about young Savage, if you love the girl.” “But I don’t. On the contrary, uncle, I am deuced near loving another girl, if not quite in for it.” “That is fortunate, because I could not permit you to marry this one. She’s too good for you, fifty per cent. too good.” “Well, uncle, we wont quarrel about that. But the new home. Either Savage or old Mrs. Halstead is providing that, and I wont permit it. We must take this on ourselves.” “We?” “Yes. For what am I without you?” The old man’s eyes glistened. He took young Gould’s hand in his with a vigorous pressure.