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“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!”

Mr. Hartman was bewildered. He felt as if it would be a kind of sacrilege to take the money of his niece, yet how could he positively refuse to do so? Apart from the necessity of his circumstances, there was the cruelty of doing violence to the generous love that had so freely tendered relief. In the end, all objections had to yield, and Mr. Hartman was saved from a second disaster, which would have entirely prostrated him, by the money that Jessie had earned and saved.

A short time after the occurrence of this circumstance, the Freemans gave a large party. Mrs. Carlton, who was present, said to Mrs. Freeman, an hour after the company had assembled–

“Where is Miss Hampton? I’ve been looking for her all the evening. Isn’t she well?”

“What Miss Hampton do you mean?” asked Mrs. Freeman, drawing herself up with an air cold and dignified.

“Miss Jessie Hampton,” replied Mrs. Carlton.

“Sure enough!” said a young man, who was sitting by, and who had been attentive to Fanny Freeman; “where is Miss Hampton? I haven’t seen her for a long time. What can have become of her? Is she dead, or is she married?”

“Her uncle, I suppose you know, failed in business, and has become poor,” replied Mrs. Carlton.

“True. I was perfectly aware of that, but didn’t reflect that poverty was a social crime. And is it possible that so lovely a girl as Jessie Hampton has been excluded from the circle she so graced with her presence, because of this change in her uncle’s circumstances?”

“It is true to a very great extent, Mr. Edgar,” returned Mrs. Carlton, “though I am glad to say that there are a few who can appreciate the real gold of her character, and who love her as truly and esteem her as highly as ever they did.”

“A worthy few, and if I were only so fortunate as to fall in company with her, I would be of the number. Is she here to-night?”

The young man looked at Mrs. Freeman, and became aware, from the expression of her face, that the subject was disagreeable to her. With easy politeness he changed the theme of conversation; but as soon as opportunity offered, sought out Mrs. Carlton, and asked a question or two more about Jessie.

“What has become of Miss Hampton? I should really like to know,” he said.

Mrs. Carlton could only reply direct, and she answered,

“She is living in this family in the capacity of governess.”

“Indeed! I have been visiting here, off and on, for a twelvemonth, but have neither seen her nor heard her name mentioned. Are you sure?”

“Oh yes. I procured her the situation over a year ago, and see her almost every week.”

“This being the case, and it also being plain that her worth is not appreciated here, our remarks a little while ago could not have been very pleasant to the ears of Mrs. Freeman.”

“I presume not,” was returned.

The young man became thoughtful, and, in a little while, withdrew from the crowded rooms and left the house. He was the son of a wealthy merchant, and had recently come into his father’s business as a partner. It was to the firm of Edgar & Son that the note of Mr. Hartman, which Jessie had aided him to lift, had been due.

On the day succeeding the party at Mrs. Freeman’s, Mr. Hartman came in to purchase some goods, and, after selecting them, asked if he could have the usual credit.

“Certainly,” replied old Mr. Edgar; “and to double the amount of the bill.”

Hartman thanked the merchant, and retired.

“You know the five hundred dollar note that he paid last week?” said Mr. Edgar, speaking to his son, and alluding to Hartman, who had just left.