Have you sent to his house to make inquiry ?" "Not yet.

I have expected him all the morning." "He was here yesterday ?" "Not until late in the afternoon." "Indeed! Did he complain of not being well ?" "No, sir.

But he didn't look very well." There was something in the manner of the clerk which Wilkinson did not understand clearly at first.

But all at once it flashed upon his mind that Ellis might, in consequence of some trouble with his wife, have suddenly abandoned himself to drink.

With this thought came the remembrance of what had passed between them two days before; and this but confirmed his first impression.
"If Mr.Ellis comes in," said he, after some moments of hurried thought, "tell him that I would like to see him." The clerk promised to do so.
"Hadn't you better send to his house ?" suggested Wilkinson, as he turned to leave the store.