"I believe you consider me a friend of yours, Ben." "I consider you one of the best friends I have, Mr. Porter," said Ben warmly. "Then you must allow me a friend's privilege." As he said this he drew from his pocketbook a twenty-dollar bill, and put it into Ben's hands. "Thank you very much, Mr. Porter; but ought I to accept so much?" "Certainly. Remember that my means are considerable, and that I have no one dependent upon me." Ben felt that his companion derived pleasure from his gift, and he did not see why he should make any further objections. He added the twenty dollars to his savings-book fund, and said to himself: "There will be no trouble now in tiding over the six months." But it is said misfortunes never come singly. The very next day his aunt received a lawyer's letter, which plunged her into the deepest despondency. Chapter XXXII The Blow Falls This is the material portion of Mrs. Bradford's letter to Ben: "Dear Benjamin: The blow has fallen at last. I felt that our prosperity was not lasting, though I never could make you believe it. I have always expected the worst, and it has come. Benjamin, we are ruined; I shall end my days in the poorhouse after all. If you want an explanation, read the letter which I enclose." The letter enclosed was from Solomon Brief, attorney, of Montreal, informing Mrs. Bradford that, as executor of the estate of the late Matthew Baldwin, of Montreal, he begged to remind her that for five years she had failed to pay the rent on a tenement owned by the deceased, and which he now found it to be his duty to demand. At sixty dollars per year, without interest, this would now amount to three hundred dollars, which he hoped Mrs. Bradford would see the propriety of paying at once. Mrs. Bradford continued: I don't know whether they will put me in jail or not; but you know that I cannot pay this money, and couldn't if I had five years to do it in. What will become of us all I don't know. 'Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.' "Your sorrowful aunt, "Jane Bradford. "P.S.--I am sure your Uncle Matthew never intended that I should pay the rent. He once wrote me a letter to that effect, but I can't find it." Even Ben, hopeful as he was, looked sober after reading this letter. He went to his friend, the bookkeeper. "Have you ever seen your uncle, Ben?" he inquired. "No, sir." "What was his reputation?" "He was considered wealthy." "It is a pity you could not visit Montreal, and make some inquiries," said the bookkeeper thoughtfully. "Of course I can't do that." "Then, first of all, write to this lawyer, and inquire the particulars of Mr. Baldwin's death; and next, how his property is left. Then make him acquainted with the terms on which your aunt has occupied her house." This advice seemed reasonable, and Ben adopted it.