James. If you should go on as you would like,
it would not be six months before she would be
leaving me; and that won't do. Just think how
much profit she was to us last summer. We
had no work hired out; she did the work of two
girls--"

"And got the whippings for two with it!"
remarked Mr. Bellmont.

"I'll beat the money out of her, if I can't get
her worth any other way," retorted Mrs. B.
sharply. While this scene was passing, Frado
was trying to utter the prayer of the publican,
"God be merciful to me a sinner."





CHAPTER IX.

DEATH.

We have now
But a small portion of what men call time,
To hold communion.


SPRING opened, and James, instead of rallying,