Mrs. Raymount had not read half of Sarah’s account. It was enough to learn Cornelius had not been home for three nights. How strange it is that parents with no reasonable ground for believing their children good are yet incredulous when they hear they are going wrong. Helen Raymount concluded her boy had turned into bad ways because he was left in London, although she knew he had never taken to good ways while they were all with him. If he had never gone right, why should she wonder that he had gone wrong?

The doctor was sitting by the bedside, watching the effect of something he had given her. Mr. Raymount rose and led Hester from the room—sternly almost, as if she had been to blame for it all.

Some people when they are angry, speak as if they were angry with the person to whom they are in fact looking for comfort. When in trouble few of us are masters enough of ourselves, because few of us are children enough of our Father in heaven, to behave like gentlemen. But Hester understood and did not resent.

“Is this all your mother knows, Hester?” said her father, pointing to the letter in his hand. She told him her mother had read but the first sentence or two.

He was silent as he returned to the bedside, and stood silent. The life of his dear wife had been suddenly withered at the root, and she had not even yet heard the worst!

His letter was from his wife’s brother, in whose bank Cornelius was a clerk. A considerable deficit had been discovered in his accounts. He had not been to the bank for two days, and no trace of him was to be found. His uncle, concerned about the feelings of his sister, had requested the head of his office to be silent. He would wait for his brother-in-law’s reply before taking any steps. He feared the misguided youth had reckoned on the forbearance of an uncle, but for the sake of his own future, if for no other reason, this could not be passed over.

“Passed over!” Gerald Raymount would never have considered such a thing. But for his wife’s illness, he would already have been on his way to London to repay the missing money!