“You have several appointments, sir,” replied the clerk.

“Then send, and put them all off.”

“Yes, sir; and if anyone calls, I am to say that you are not at home?”

“No, I am at home; why tell a lie? but I cannot see anybody.”

The clerk shut the door; John Forster put on his spectacles to re-peruse the letter which lay before him.  It was the one from Edward, inclosed in a frank by Lord Aveleyn, with a few lines, announcing his brother’s death, and stating that Amber was at the Hall, where they should be glad that she should remain until it was convenient to send for her.  Edward’s letter repeated his thanks to his brother for his kind promise, and took a last and affectionate farewell.  John Forster struggled for a time with his feelings; but the more he attempted to repress them the more violent they became.  He was alone, and he gave them vent.  The legal documents before him, arising from the bitterness of strife, were thus unusually moistened with a tribute to a brother’s memory.  But in a few moments the old lawyer was himself again; all traces of emotion had disappeared, and no one who had seen him then would ever have imagined that John Forster could have been thus moved.  The next day he was not as usual to be found at his chambers:  the fact was, that he had set off immediately after breakfast, upon what is generally termed “house hunting.”  The apartments which he occupied in his chambers were not sufficient for the intended increase of his establishment; and when he had given his promise to Edward, he was fully aware of the expense which would be entailed by receiving Amber, and had made up his mind to incur it.  He therefore fixed upon a convenient house in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, which would not detach him far from his chambers.  Having arranged for a lease of twelve years, John Forster returned to his chambers.

“Scratton,” said he, “look out for a man-servant, a cook, housemaid, and a steady woman as housekeeper—­good characters, and undeniable reference.  The housekeeper must be a somewhat superior person, as she will have to take charge of a young miss, and I do not want her spoiled by keeping company with the general description of servants.  Do you understand?”

Scratton did; and in less than a month, as everything is to be obtained for money in the city of London, the house was furnished by a city upholsterer in a plain way, and all the servants installed in their respective situations.

Mr John Forster took possession of his new house, and tried for a week if all worked well.  Ascertaining that the furniture was complete, the under-servants well behaved, and the housekeeper a mild and very intelligent personage, fit to be intrusted with the charge of a little girl, he then wrote to Lord Aveleyn, reiterating the thanks conveyed in his former letter, and requesting that Amber might be delivered into the charge of the bearer.  With this letter Mr Scratton was despatched, and, in due time, arrived at the Hall.  Amber wept bitterly at the idea of parting with those who had been so kind to her, and passing into the hands of one who was a stranger.  Having exacted a promise from William Aveleyn that he would call as he passed through on his way to Cambridge, she bade her kind friends farewell, entered the chaise in company with Mr Scratton, and was hurried off to London.