"When is the auction to be?"

"To-day is Monday. It is appointed for Thursday."

"I hope there will be something left for you."

"There will be about enough left to pay my father's small debts and
his funeral expenses. I would not like to have him indebted to
others for those. I don't think there will be anything over."

Frank looked perplexed.

"I am sorry for you, Phil," he said. "I wish we were rich, instead
of having hard work to make both ends meet. You would not lack for
anything then."

"Dear Frank," said Philip earnestly, "I never doubted your true
friendship. But I am not afraid that I shall suffer. I am sure I can
earn my living."

"But why do you shut yourself up alone, Philip?" asked Frank, not
satisfied to leave his friend in what he considered the gloomy
solitude of a house just visited by death.

"I want to look over my father's papers. I may find out something
that I ought to know, and after the auction it will be too late.
Father had some directions to give me, but he did not live long
enough to do it. For three days I have the house to myself. After
that I shall perhaps never visit it again."