He would see that she knew he was worth--the page of figures suddenly
flashed in before his eyes like a magic-lantern slide. Yes, he was worth
all that! and he could now marry whom and when he pleased.




CHAPTER II


Livingstone closed his books. He had put everything in such shape that
Clark, his confidential clerk, would not have the least trouble this
year in transferring everything and starting the new books that would
now be necessary.

Last year Clark had been at his house a good many nights writing up
these private books; but that was because Clark had been in a sort of
muddle last winter,--his wife was sick, or one of his dozen children had
met with an accident,--or something,--Livingstone vaguely remembered.

This year there would be no such trouble. Livingstone was pleased at the
thought; for Clark was a good fellow, and a capable bookkeeper, even
though he was a trifle slow.

Livingstone felt that he had, in a way, a high regard for Clark. He was
attentive to his duties, beyond words. He was a gentleman, too,--of a
first-rate family--a man of principle. How he could ever have been
content to remain a simple clerk all these years, Livingstone could not
understand. It gave him a certain contempt for him. That came, he