“It is true to a very great extent, Mr. Edgar,” returned Mrs. Carlton, “though I am glad to say that there are a few who can appreciate the real gold of her character, and who love her as truly and esteem her as highly as ever they did.”

“A worthy few, and if I were only so fortunate as to fall in company with her, I would be of the number.  Is she here to-night?”

The young man looked at Mrs. Freeman, and became aware, from the expression of her face, that the subject was disagreeable to her.  With easy politeness he changed the theme of conversation; but as soon as opportunity offered, sought out Mrs. Carlton, and asked a question or two more about Jessie.

“What has become of Miss Hampton?  I should really like to know,” he said.

Mrs. Carlton could only reply direct, and she answered,

“She is living in this family in the capacity of governess.”

“Indeed!  I have been visiting here, off and on, for a twelvemonth, but have neither seen her nor heard her name mentioned.  Are you sure?”

“Oh yes.  I procured her the situation over a year ago, and see her almost every week.”

“This being the case, and it also being plain that her worth is not appreciated here, our remarks a little while ago could not have been very pleasant to the ears of Mrs. Freeman.”

“I presume not,” was returned.

The young man became thoughtful, and, in a little while, withdrew from the crowded rooms and left the house.  He was the son of a wealthy merchant, and had recently come into his father’s business as a partner.  It was to the firm of Edgar & Son that the note of Mr. Hartman, which Jessie had aided him to lift, had been due.

On the day succeeding the party at Mrs. Freeman’s, Mr. Hartman came in to purchase some goods, and, after selecting them, asked if he could have the usual credit.

“Certainly,” replied old Mr. Edgar; “and to double the amount of the bill.”

Hartman thanked the merchant, and retired.

“You know the five hundred dollar note that he paid last week?” said Mr. Edgar, speaking to his son, and alluding to Hartman, who had just left.

“I do.”

“Well, I heard something about that note this morning that really touched my feelings.  Hartman spoke of the circumstances to a friend, and that friend—­betraying, I think, the confidence reposed in him—­related it to me, not knowing that we were the parties to which the note had been paid.  On that note he came near failing again.”

“Indeed!  And yet you have just sold him freely!”

“I have.  But such are my feelings that I would risk five thousand dollars to keep him up.  I know him to be a man of strict honesty.”

“There is no doubt of that,” replied the son.

“You remember his niece, I suppose?” said old Mr. Edgar.

“Oh, very well.”