“What is the matter with you this evening, dear?  Are you not well?” inquired Mrs. Levering, breaking in upon the thoughtful mood of her husband, as he sat in unwonted silence.

I’m perfectly well,” he replied, rousing himself, and forcing a smile.

“You look sober.”

“Do I?” Another forced smile.

“Something troubles you, I’m afraid.”

“O no; it’s all in your imagination.”

“Are you sick, papa?” now asks a bright little fellow, clambering upon his knee.

“Why no, love, I’m not sick.  Why do you think so?”

“Because you don’t play horses with me.”

“Oh dear!  Is that the ground of your suspicion?” replied the father, laughing.  “Come! we’ll soon scatter them to the winds.”

And Mr. Levering commenced a game of romps with the children.  But he tired long before they grew weary, nor did he, from the beginning, enter into this sport with his usual zest.

“Does your head ache, pa?” inquired the child who had previously suggested sickness, as he saw his father leave the floor, and seat himself, with some gravity of manner, on a chair.

“Not this evening, dear,” answered Mr. Levering.

“Why don’t you play longer, then?”

“Oh pa!” exclaimed another child, speaking from a sudden thought, “you don’t know what a time we had at school to-day.”

“Ah! what was the cause?”

“Oh! you’ll hardly believe it.  But Eddy Jones stole a dollar from Maggy Enfield!”

“Stole a dollar!” ejaculated Mr. Levering.  His voice was husky, and he felt a cold thrill passing along every nerve.

“Yes, pa! he stole a dollar!  Oh, wasn’t it dreadful?”

“Perhaps he was wrongly accused,” suggested Mrs. Levering.

“Emma Wilson saw him do it, and they found the dollar in his pocket.  Oh! he looked so pale, and it made me almost sick to hear him cry as if his heart would break.”

“What did they do with him?” asked Mrs. Levering.

“They sent for his mother, and she took him home.  Wasn’t it dreadful?”

“It must have been dreadful for his poor mother,” Mr. Levering ventured to remark.

“But more dreadful for him,” said Mrs. Levering.  “Will he ever forget his crime and disgrace?  Will the pressure of that dollar on his conscience ever be removed?  He may never do so wicked an act again; but the memory of this wrong deed cannot be wholly effaced from his mind.”

How rebukingly fell all these words on the ears of Mr. Levering.  Ah! what would he not then have given to have the weight of that dollar removed?  Its pressure was so great as almost to suffocate him.  It was all in vain that he tried to be cheerful, or to take an interest in what was passing immediately around him.  The innocent prattle of his children had lost its wonted charm, and there seemed an accusing expression in the eye of his wife, as, in the concern his changed aspect had occasioned, she looked soberly upon him.  Unable to bear all this, Mr. Levering went out, something unusual for him, and walked the streets for an hour.  On his return, the children were in bed, and he had regained sufficient self-control to meet his wife with a less disturbed appearance.