"Will the Union be dissolved, then, pa-sy,--when the Whigs are beaten?"

"Bah! you little plague," he growled, with a laugh. "But, then, you
women don't know anything about politics. So, there. As I was saying,
everything went wrong with me to-day. I've been speculating in railroad
stock, and singed my fingers. Then, old Tom Hollis outbid me to-day,
at Leonard's, on a rare medical work I had set my eyes upon having.
Confound him! Then, again, two of my houses are tenantless, and there
are folks in two others that won't pay their rent, and I can't get them
out. Out they'll go, though, or I'll know why. And, to crown all--um-m.
And I wish the Devil had him! as he will."

"Had who, Beary-papa?"

"Him. I'll tell you. The street-floor of one of my houses in Hanover
Street lets for an oyster-room. They keep a bar there, and sell liquor.
Last night they had a grand row,--a drunken fight, and one man was
stabbed, it's thought fatally."

"O father!" Netty's bright eyes dilated with horror.

"Yes. I hope he won't die. At any rate, there's likely to be a stir
about the matter, and my name will be called into question, then, as
I'm the landlord. And folks will make a handle of it, and there'll be
the deuce to pay, generally."

He got back the stern, vexed frown, to his face, with the anticipation,
and beat the carpet with his foot. The ghost still watched from the
angle of the room, and seemed to darken, while its features looked
troubled.