‘What kept you so long chattering up-stairs?’ queried the old man, with all the peevishness of a sick person.  ’You don’t care a penny-piece, either of you, though I died this very moment.’

‘Oh, Uncle Abel, hold your tongue; you know that is not true,’ she said quickly.  ’Walter is in great trouble this morning.  Something has happened to his sister.’

‘Ay, what is it, eh?’

‘I don’t know exactly, but she has left home.’

’Ay, ay, I’m not surprised; she was a bold hussy, and had no respect for anything in this world.  And is Walter taking on badly?’

‘Very badly.  I never saw him so distressed.’

’Well, it’s hard on a chap trying to do well.  It’s a hopeless case trying to fly out of an ill nest.’

’Uncle Abel, you must not say that.  Nothing is hopeless, if only we are on the right side,’ said Gladys stoutly, though inwardly her heart re-echoed sadly that dark creed.

‘Well, well, you’re young, and nothing seems impossible,’ he said good-naturedly.  ’Here, take off this string.  My fingers are as feckless as a thread.’

Gladys opened the pocket-book, which was stuffed full of old papers.  The old man fingered them lovingly and with careful touch, until he found the one he sought.  It was a somewhat long document, written on blue, official-looking paper, and attested by several seals.  He read it from beginning to end with close attention, and gave a grunt of satisfaction when he laid it down.

‘Is Wat busy?’ he asked then.

‘He has not much heart for his work to-day, uncle,’

’Cry him down; I’ve a message for him.  Or, stop, you’d better go yourself, in case anybody comes to the warehouse.  Do you know St. Vincent Street?’

‘Yes, uncle.’

‘You don’t know Fordyce & Fordyce, the lawyers’ office, do you?’

‘No, but I can find it.’

’Very well; go just now and ask for old Mr. Fordyce.  If he isn’t in, just come back.’

‘And what am I to say to him?’

’Tell him to come here just as soon as ever he can.  I want to see him, and there is not any time to lose.’

The girl’s lip quivered.  A strange feeling of approaching desolation was with her, and her outlook was of the dreariest.  If it were true, as the old man evidently believed, that his hour had come, she would again be friendless and solitary on the face of the earth.  Abel Graham saw these signs of grief, and a curious softness visited his heart, though he could scarce believe one so fair and sweet could really care for him.