pain, Charles, that will be lingering, too.” “I must bear it.” He rose as he spoke, and put his arm in his cousin’s. He stood a minute or two as if getting strength, and then walked on, leaning heavily on George. It was the pain, the excessive agony, that unnerved him; a little while, and he would seem in the possession of his strength again. “George, I can not tell how you will manage the business when I am gone,” he continued, more in a business-like tone. “I think of it a great deal. Sometimes I fancy it might be better if you took a staid, sober partner, one of middle age, a thorough man of business. Great confidence has been accorded me, you know, George. I suppose people like my steady habits.” “They like you for your honest integrity;” returned George, the words seemed to break from him impulsively, “I shall manage very well, I dare say, when the time comes, I suppose I must settle down to business to be more like what you have been, I can,” he continued in a sort of soliloquy, “I can, and I will.” But they walked on slowly neither saying a word until they reached the house. George shook hands with his cousin, “don’t you attempt to come to business to-morrow,” he said, “I will come up in the evening to see you.” “Won’t you come in now, George?” “Thank you. Good night, Charles, I heartily wish you better.” There went on the progress of a few days and another week had dawned and Charles seemed to all appearances to be improving, he arose now to the early breakfast table, he began to hasten to business for there was much work there with the accounts, and one morning when they were at breakfast the old servant entered with one or two letters for Charles, but before the old man could reach his master, whose back was toward the door, Mary made him a sign and he laid the letters down on a remote table. Charles had been receiving a large number of letters of late, and Mary was fearful that so much business might bring on another of those spells and deemed it just as well that he should at least eat his breakfast in peace. The circumstances of the letters having passed from her mind he ate on in silence, but Martha and Matilda were discussing certain news which they had received the previous day, news which had surprised them concerning the engagement of a lady who had looked upon matrimony as folly. CHAPTER IX. CHARLES RECEIVES ANOTHER STROKE.