Leonard reflected that whatever may have been his father's misdeeds, and
they were many and black, it should scarcely have lain in the mouth of
the Rev. James Beach, who owed nearly everything he had in the world to
his kindness, to allude to them. But he could not defend his father's
memory, it was beyond defence, and just now he must fight for his own
hand.

"Yes, Mr. Beach," he said earnestly, "you can help me very much. You
know the cruel position in which my brother and I are placed through no
fault of our own: our old home is sold, our fortunes have gone utterly,
and our honourable name is tarnished. At the present moment I have
nothing left in the world except the sum of two hundred pounds which
I had saved for a purpose of my own out of my allowance. I have no
profession and cannot even take my degree, because I am unable to afford
the expense of remaining at college."

"Black, I must say, very black," murmured Mr. Beach, rubbing his chin.
"But under these circumstances what can I do to help you? You must trust
in Providence, my boy; it never fails the deserving."

"This," answered Leonard, nervously; "you can show your confidence in
me by allowing my engagement to Jane to be proclaimed." Here Mr. Beach
waved his hand once more as though to repel some invisible force.

"One moment," continued Leonard. "I know that it seems a great deal to
ask, but listen. Although everything looks so dark, I have reliance on
myself. With the stimulus which my affection for your daughter will give
me, and knowing that in order to win her I must first put myself in a
position to support her as she should be supported, I am quite convinced