"Then I shall speak openly to you, and without any reserve.  I need hardly remind you of the sad beginning of our family troubles.  You will remember too well how my poor sister left her home, and married secretly a man altogether beneath her.  You know how terribly my poor father was cut up by that marriage, and how he closed the door of our home against Miss Julia, as I must still call her to you.  I am not blaming him nor excusing her, but just referring to the facts themselves.  I never knew till to-day who or what my poor sister's husband was.  I never dared mention the subject to my father, especially after my dear mother had to leave us; but ever since they were gone from us I have had it on my heart to make it the great business of my life to get them back again. I know it can be done, and I believe, with God's help, it will be done. I have found out to-day that my poor sister's husband is an actor, evidently a thoroughly unprincipled man.  She went about with him from one place to another for a while; then he deserted her, before the children were old enough to know him as their father; and about a year ago I got a letter from her, telling me that she was left in a miserable lodging with two little children, and must starve unless somebody helped her.  I went to see her, and found her mixed up with a number of her husband's stage acquaintances, from whom she seemed unable to free herself.  So I promised to supply her with what would keep her from want till her husband should return to her; and got her to let me have her two children, whom she was quite unable to feed and clothe, and who would soon be ruined, I saw, if they were left with their poor mother as she then was, and with such people about her as friends or acquaintances.  So I brought the children here, and have put them under the charge of good Mrs Williams, who knows all about them; and since then I have been just watching and waiting to see how the Lord would guide me, and have been content to move as he directs me, one step at a time.  But yesterday I got a sad check.  The father of the children enticed away his little boy, and got me to meet him this morning some miles away from here.  He cared nothing for the child, but only took him away that he might get some money out of me.  So, when we met this morning, he engaged to give me back the child if I would promise to send him a sum of money which he named; and if I would not do so, then he said he would keep the boy, and bring him up as a stage-player.  That I would not hear of; so I promised him the money, and he has given me back the little boy as you see, and has solemnly undertaken not to meddle with either of the children again.  And now I want you to take the money for me when we get home.  He is to be at the four turnings above the Manor-house at five o'clock to-morrow morning, and I am to send him a cheque in an envelope.  This I have promised, and I want your help in the matter.  You understand, Harry, how things are?--they are black enough just now, I grant, but they might be blacker."