them very much. As for Joshua, he would as
soon have dared to venture into a lion's den, as
to enter into my shop either for sugar-candy or
cheese-cakes.

Many a person would say it was my fancy;
but ever after that day, when he took the
minister's money, Mr. Corbett shrank, and paled,
and dwindled away before my eyes, until
whenever he went down the street, with the woful
shadow behind him smiting upon its breast,
each time I saw the life slowly dying out of
him; like the light goes out of the sky on a
summer's evening. I noticed him muffling up
more and more, and walking with feebler tread;
and then there came a faint, hollow cough,
which sometimes made him press his hand
against his side. People counted to one another
how many of his relations had died consumptive,
and said how foolish it was of Harry Thompson
to stand off from entering into partnership with
him; and they reckoned up what riches he
would have to leave behind him, poor, foolish
wretch! Spite of all my wrath against him,
I could not help but sigh, and shiver with a
kind of awe, as from time to time he tottered
past, looking more and more wobegone, with
the very look of anguish, which his shadow
wore, settling now upon his own bland features.

It was getting on for twelve months after
Rebecca and her father had paid away their
treasured savings, when one day, in the dusk of
the evening, Joshua Lamb tapped meekly upon
my counter; but, before I could open my lips to
order him off my premises, he began to speak
glibly but humbly enough, not giving me room
to put in one word, until he had told me that
his miserable master was getting worse and
worse, and wanted to see Rebecca.

I may as well be straightforward, if Joshua
Lamb and Mr. Corbett were not. After some
hanging back, she consented; but would not go
without me. We were shown into Corbett's
lonely parlour, where he sat amidst the gloom
of crimson curtains, which cast a kind of rosy
glow upon his white face. They could not conceal
the wasted cheeks and sunken eyes, nor
the glance of mingled despair, and shame, and
agony, with which he met Rebecca's steadfast
gaze. He was a man in years, getting on for
sixty; but, till now, I had never thought of him
with any more fellow-feeling or pity than I should
have thought of the devil, God forgive me! Yet,
as he sat there in his wealthy room, fading away
from all his riches, alone and desolate, I could
hardly refrain from going up to him, and shaking
out the pillow under his grey head, and laying
it down softly and gently for his wicked brain to
rest upon.

"Thank you, Mary," he said, smiling; for
he was that cunning yet that he could read one's
very thoughts; "thank you, but never mind.
Sit down, you and Miss Ambery; you would
rather not shake hands with me. I am troubled
about the old minister; he is an aged man, and
he thinks he has something against me. Miss
Ambery, I should die easier, and I know I am
dying, if you would receive that money back
again from me as a gift."

Rebecca did not answer for a minute or two;
while Mr. Corbett drew out a large pocket-book,
and took from it several notes for a
hundred pounds each, counting them aloud one
by one. I knew how poor we were, and I felt
dazed and giddy for very joy.

"No," said Rebecca, " I will not take them;
they are the price of my father's good name.
I will accept no gift from you, Mr. Corbett."

A spasm shot across his face, and he laid
his worn hand upon his heaving chest, as if to
strengthen him to speak again.

"Rebecca," he said, "I have known you
since you were a little child, and I cannot bear
for you, and Katie, and Nellie to come to want.
I would rather give you the money than leave
it in my will. Take more money. Take a thousand
pounds apiece if you will have it. Take
it, and I will consent for Harry to marry Katie."
Rebecca stood up in her place calm and
resolute, though her eyes were fastened upon the
rustling bank-notes in Mr. Corbett's hand;
while he watched her face eagerly, as if his soul's
salvation rested upon her answer. She smiled
at length, half in scorn, and half in triumph.

"It is a great bribe," she said, " and I loved
money once, but it has no power over me now.
Give me back my father's good name, and I will
listen to you; but, till then, you may go on to
offer me your worthless money, and I will say
no to the last."

"Rebecca," he cried, looking affrighted at
her, "give me your solemn promise that you
will not betray me, and I will tell you."

"I will hear nothing that I cannot make
known," she answered. " What you have to
tell you shall write down, that it may be made
known to the world after your death. So far I
consent. Only let my father's name be righted,
and I care very little about the money. May
God have pity upon you, Mr. Corbett!"

He was too feeble to answer her anything;
and I ran and made the pillows soft and easy
under his head, before we turned to go away.
Even Rebecca stepped up to his side, and
took his languid hand for a moment in her own.

"Stay," he cried, gasping for breath, and he
closed his fingers over hers, though he had not
the strength of a baby, "you shall write it for
me; only keep my secret till I am gone."

So Rebecca sat down at the table beside him,
neither trembling nor faltering, and waited with
her steadfast piercing eyes resting upon him,
until he recovered himself; and receiving our
solemn promises to keep his secret, he bade her
what she should write upon the paper. It was
to this effect: When Mr. Ambery resigned his
office of pastor to the church, the trust-deeds,
with other law papers belonging to the chapel,
had been given over to Mr. Corbett's care, and
that among them he discovered the lost deed of
release, which the minister had kept with them,
though belonging to his own private affairs.
Furthermore, that when Mr. Thompson died, who
was the last person then living that could bear