A Letter of Credit

r. The drives in the Park were refreshing, but alas, fatiguing, and sometimes had to be relinquished; and this happened again and again. Ro

of her doings was gone. Still, Mrs. Carpenter never saw her weep. In the evenings, or in the twilight, when there was nothing particular to be done, the child would nestle close to her mother, lay her head in her lap or rest it against her knee, and sit quiet. Still, at least, if not quiet;

saw that his sick friend grew weaker every day, yet he did not expect after all that the end would come so soon as it did. He had yet a lingering notion of bring

Digby,-it's

his way to the stairs

ugh!" And Mrs. Marble's face was all quiverin

r. Digby. "Yo

she's gone to the good land; and I guess

her face in her apron, and sadly blotched wi

e like o' the way I miss her. I'd got to depend on her living up there, and it was good to think of it; there warn't no noise, more'n if nobody had been up there; but if I aint good myself and

e is

d; I tried to get her to come down and have some breakfast with me; but l

is

u about her, sir; what's to be done with Rotha? who'll take care of her? She's just a

she was v

way she don't like, and you'd see the sparks fly! If you want to k

her, here?" ask

re, of fourteen years old or any other age. She aint a bad child at all; I'm not meaning that; but her mother let her have her own way, and I guess she couldn't help i

good woman and began

annisters, "because, if that was the best, I would take her myself and bring her

. "Thank you, Mrs. Marbl

mebody else a little bit masterful, I expect. Well, it's all right for the men, I s'pose, at least if they take a good turn; any wa

sisted on her having her old sleeping apartment again, other quarters being found or made for Mrs. Cord in the house. Mrs. Cord had naturally assumed th

d the face he saw then smote his heart. It was such a changed face; wan and pale, with the rings round the eyes that come of excessive weeping, and a blank, dull expression in the eye

close up to the girl and stood there, looking down at her. But she turned her wan face away from him and looked out of the window again. She looked, but he was sure she saw nothing. He did not venture to touch her; he

sit down,

pathy than can be shewn since Job's time. Yet what to say, Mr. Digby was profoundly doubtful. Finding nothing that would do, of his own, he took his little Testament from his p

here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now

her, Thy brother s

Rotha, who after a few verses

't w

read an

y n

know what he did. But he

Not immediately

care for

nd bring to him all his people who are then living, scattered about in the world, and at the same time all his people

out into violent sobs, "I do

ion on the sea shore. It seemed as if the girl must almost strangle in her convulsive oppression of breath. He tried soothing words, and he tried authority; and both

Digby gravely, "

nswered. "How are yo

t; but y

d, with almost a cry. "

you must lear

?" she sai

at you will always do what

er was

you mean that i

t she said nothing, and Mr. Digby let her alone. After this time, she rose and

"because I am so wicked, will

testimony of Rotha's trust and dependence on him; it was very child-like, but coming from this girl who was so nearly not a child, it moved the young man strangely. He had no sisters; the feeling of Rotha's silky, thick locks against the side of his face and the clinging appeal of her hand and head on his shoulder, gave him an entirely new sensation. A

l be like my own little sister; for your mother left you in my ch

o. Both of them remained still and silent, Mr. Digby thinking this among other things; poor Rotha was hardly thinking at all, any more than a shipwrecked man just flung ashore by the waves, and clinging to the rock that has saved him fr

you say, now?" she re

wered, much struck by

try, Mr.

trust me t

r w

hat I do for you, or want you to

ad from his shoulde

want me to do

by, perhaps many things.

rust that what yo

es

mightn't you

you? And would it

ot certainly to her mother. She had sometimes thought them mistaken; how could she help that? and how could she help it in any other case

ir!" she began. "I wanted to

n by the window. The other two went into the adjoining room, and there Mrs. Cord received

o with Rotha, sir?

er? In wha

n't eat

the next time it i

Mrs. Cord, shaking her head. "Sh

t her h

y much, all along; but now-she don't care for what I say, no more'n if I was a

r mother left h

tion and disapprobation; wondering, no doubt, what disposal Mr. Digby c

ill after the funeral,"

r you can until then. By

ill lunch here. If you h

mething in a

ptu meal was spread in a few minutes. Mr. Digby meanwhile went out and got some fruit; and then he and Rotha sat down together. Rotha was utterly gentle and docile; did what he bade her and took what he gave her; indeed it was plain the

to intervene. What should he do? He would willingly be out of the city himself; and for Rotha, the spending all these weeks in her mother's old rooms, in August weather, and with Mrs. Cord and Mrs. Marble for companions, did not

ith Mrs. Cord to look after her. But as he himself also took up his abode in the house, Mrs. Cord's supervision was confined to strictly secondar

eat; it is also a pleasure to excite and to receive affection; and he presently saw, with some astonishment, that he was doing this also. Certainly it was not a thing in the circumstances to be astonished at; and it moved Mr. Digby so, simply because he was so far from th

ttention to little matters; all useful in a sort of slow, unnoticed way. Otherwise for a few days he let her alone. But then he began to give her things to do. Lessons were taken up again, by degrees multiplied, until Rotha's time was well filled with occupation. It went very hard at first. Rotha even ventured on a little passive rebellion; even declared she could not study. Mr. Digby shewed her that she could; helped her, led her on, and let her see finally that he expected certain things of her, which she could not neglect without coming to an open rupture with him. That was impossible. Rotha bent her will to do what was required of her; and from that time the difficulty of Mr. Digby's task was over. She began soon to be interested again in what she was about and to make excellent progress. Then Mr. Digby wo

n the first week of this new life

ple not likely to have much of that sort of thing; bu

young lady ought to be,

need, and knows nothing about. Her mother was a very good woman, an

llocation of things, however he

as far as you know, that she has a full supply of everything. Go to one of the best shops for outfits and get p

ning,

things, bu

ause it's cus

custom; be

sir?" asked Mrs. Cord

Only the linen and all that, Mrs. Cord, which I shoul

t the ginghams were fine and beautiful, and the muslins of delicate patterns and excellent quality; and with them came a set of fine cambrick handkerchiefs, and ruffles, and lace, and a little parasol, and a light summer wrap; for Rotha had nothing to put on that made her fit to go to drive w

an expression of strong distaste. "Why that never cos

never wore anything but sixpenny calico if

awn is the prettiest t

don't want

handkerchiefs; and then he took her somewhere, Stewart's, I shouldn't wonder, and got her gloves and gloves; and then a lovely Leghorn hat

contemplated the musli

' black among 'em all! Not a

returned the nurse; "but if i

before she's well out of sight. I'd ha' dressed her in black, poor as I am, and not a sign o white about her, for one year at least. I think it looks

urse

w! What's he thinki

askin' myself, Mrs. Marble; an

goin' to do

send her t

t for scho

to go ridin' ab

young man like that, aint the person to do it Taint lik

for such thoughts

Marble went on significantly. "When a girl's once got

usiness. And it's all I'm wanted for now. Nobody can say a word to my young lady if it isn't the gentleman hi

it convenient to give notice immediately; and also the musl

sirable point. Also she felt herself thoroughly in harmony with the new life, little as she had known of it hitherto; and was keen to discern and quick to adopt every fresh point of greater refinement in habits and manners. Mr. Digby now and then at table would say quietly, "This is the better way, Rotha,"-or, "Suppose you try it so."-He never had to give such a hint a second time. He never had to tell her anything twice. What he did, Rotha held to be "wisest, discreetest, best," the supreme model in everything; and she longed with a kind of passion to be like him in these, and in all matters. So it was with a gush of great satisfaction that the girl for the first time saw herself well and nicely dressed. She knew the difference between

Digby would have called "properly dressed," and met him in their little sitting room. She came in gravely, (she was already trying to imitate his qu

it?" she as

uslin, and he stepped ba

ng. "That's very wel

y

think it the prime question in a

so making an end of the subject; but Roth

this on to-day, though it wa

uld one be better dressed

-" said Rotha, much c

f, "in the cases where the work to be done in the week

goes to churc

-what

be better dressed

shoul

t she had nothing to say. This w

go to churc

to think about

uld much dres

don't think it helps

go for such a reason;-w

other took me; or mad

ree with me that that is a poor reason; but I am glad

I understand my

y n

in great confusion, and c

you when thos

is to-day," said R

laid her forehead against the edge of the window frame, and was looking

l you something of how

her not to say can't,

I don't know what comes

ungra

ily. "I shall never think that. I t

yet deeper feeling, that Mr. Digby was well nigh startled. It was not the flash of brilliancy of which Rotha's eyes were quite capable; it was