"Yes, dear," he replied, trying to arouse himself and appear cheerful; but the effort was in vain. "Indeed, uncle, you are not well," remarked Jessie, breaking in upon a longer period of silent abstraction into which Mr. Hartman had fallen, after in vain trying to converse cheerfully with his niece. "I am well enough in body, Jessie; but my mind is a little anxious just now," he replied. "Isn't your business coming out as well as you expected?" inquired the affectionate girl. "I am sorry to say that it is not," returned Mr. Hartman. "In fact, I see but little hope of succeeding. I have no capital, and the little credit I possess is likely to be destroyed through my inability to sustain it. I certainly did anticipate a better reward for my efforts, and am the more disappointed at this result. To think that, for the want of three or four hundred dollars, the struggle of a whole year must prove in vain! As yet, even that small sum I cannot command." The face of Jessie flushed instantly, as her uncle uttered the last two sentences. "And will so small an amount as three or four hundred dollars save you from what you fear?" she asked, in a trembling voice. "Yes, even so small an amount as that. But the sum might as well be thousands. I cannot command it." "You can, uncle!" replied Jessie, with a glow of exultation on her cheek, and a spirit of joy in her voice. "_I_ have the money. Oh! it is the happiest hour of my life!" And sinking forward, she laid her now weeping face upon the breast of her uncle. Her tears were the out-gushing waters of gladness. "_You_ have the money, child?" said Mr. Hartman, after the lapse of a few moments. "Where did you get it?" "I have had no need to spend my salary." "Your salary! Have you saved it all?" "Every dollar. I had clothing sufficient, and there was no other want to take it from me. Dear uncle, how happy it makes me to think that I have it in my power to aid you! Would that the sum was tens of thousands!" Mr. Hartman, as soon as the first surprise was over, said, with evident emotion-- "Jessie, I cannot express how much this incident has affected me. But, deeply grateful to you as I feel for such an evidence of your love, I must push back the hand that would force this aid upon me. I will not be unjust to you. I will not take your hard earnings to run the risk of losing them." A shadow passed over the face of Jessie, and her voice was touched with something like grief as she replied-- "How can you speak to me thus, uncle? How can you push back my hand when, in love, it seeks to smooth the pillow upon which your troubled head is resting? Would you deny me a higher gratification than I have ever known? No--no--you cannot!"