She spoke it like a princess.  Mrs. Hawkins smiled proudly and kissed her, saying in a tone of fond reproof: 

“So one of my girls is going to turn out and work for her living!  It’s like your pluck and spirit, child, but we will hope that we haven’t got quite down to that, yet.”

The girl’s eyes beamed affection under her mother’s caress.  Then she straightened up, folded her white hands in her lap and became a splendid ice-berg.  Clay’s dog put up his brown nose for a little attention, and got it.  He retired under the table with an apologetic yelp, which did not affect the iceberg.

Judge Hawkins had written and asked Clay to return home and consult with him upon family affairs.  He arrived the evening after this conversation, and the whole household gave him a rapturous welcome.  He brought sadly needed help with him, consisting of the savings of a year and a half of work—­nearly two hundred dollars in money.

It was a ray of sunshine which (to this easy household) was the earnest of a clearing sky.

Bright and early in the morning the family were astir, and all were busy preparing Washington for his journey—­at least all but Washington himself, who sat apart, steeped in a reverie.  When the time for his departure came, it was easy to see how fondly all loved him and how hard it was to let him go, notwithstanding they had often seen him go before, in his St. Louis schooling days.  In the most matter-of-course way they had borne the burden of getting him ready for his trip, never seeming to think of his helping in the matter; in the same matter-of-course way Clay had hired a horse and cart; and now that the good-byes were ended he bundled Washington’s baggage in and drove away with the exile.

At Swansea Clay paid his stage fare, stowed him away in the vehicle, and saw him off.  Then he returned home and reported progress, like a committee of the whole.

Clay remained at home several days.  He held many consultations with his mother upon the financial condition of the family, and talked once with his father upon the same subject, but only once.  He found a change in that quarter which was distressing; years of fluctuating fortune had done their work; each reverse had weakened the father’s spirit and impaired his energies; his last misfortune seemed to have left hope and ambition dead within him; he had no projects, formed no plans—­evidently he was a vanquished man.  He looked worn and tired.  He inquired into Clay’s affairs and prospects, and when he found that Clay was doing pretty well and was likely to do still better, it was plain that he resigned himself with easy facility to look to the son for a support; and he said, “Keep yourself informed of poor Washington’s condition and movements, and help him along all you can, Clay.”

The younger children, also, seemed relieved of all fears and distresses, and very ready and willing to look to Clay for a livelihood.  Within three days a general tranquility and satisfaction reigned in the household.  Clay’s hundred and eighty or ninety, dollars had worked a wonder.  The family were as contented, now, and as free from care as they could have been with a fortune.  It was well that Mrs. Hawkins held the purse otherwise the treasure would have lasted but a very little while.