One morning the housekeeper entered the library where John Wade sat
reading the daily papers.

"Mr. John," she said, holding out a letter, "here is a letter from that
boy. I expected he would write to your uncle."

John Wade deliberately opened the letter.

"Sit down, Mrs. Bradley, and I will read the letter aloud."

It will be only necessary to quote the concluding sentences:


"'I hope, Mr. Wharton, you will not be influenced against me by what
Mrs. Bradley and your nephew say. I don't know why it is, but they are
my enemies, though I have always treated them with respect. I am afraid
they have a desire to injure me in your estimation. If they had not
been, they would have been content with driving me from your house,
without also slandering me to my employers, and inducing them to
discharge me. Since I was discharged, I have tried very hard to get
another place, but as I cannot bring a recommendation from Gilbert &
Mack, I have everywhere been refused. I ask you, Mr. Wharton to consider
my situation. Already my small supply of money is nearly gone, and I do
not know how I am to pay my expenses. If it was any fault of mine that
had brought me into this situation, I would not complain, but it seems
hard to suffer when I am innocent.

"'I do not ask to return to your house, Mr. Wharton, for it would not
be pleasant, since your nephew and Mrs. Bradley dislike me, but I have a
right to ask that the truth may be told to my employers, so that if