long time.

"God knows," said he, at last, "that I would rather have failed in
business than that this should have happened."

Brandon looked away and said nothing.

"It comes upon me so suddenly," he continued. "I do not know what to
think. And how can I manage these vast affairs without your assistance?
For you were the one who did our business. I know that well. I had no
head for it."

"You can reduce it to smaller proportions." said Brandon; "that can
easily be done."

The old man sighed.

"After all," he continued, "it is not the business. It's losing you that
I think of, dear boy. I'm not thinking of the business at all. My grief
is altogether about your departure. I grieve, too, at the blow which
must have fallen on you to make this necessary."

"The blow is a heavy one," said Brandon; "so heavy that every thing else
in life must be forgotten except the one thought--how to recover from
it; and perhaps, also," he added, in a lower voice, "how to return it."

Mr. Compton was silent for a long time, and with every minute the deep
dejection of his face and manner increased. He folded his arms and shut
his eyes in deep thought.