CHAPTER XLVIII.
DISSOLUTION.
It was now Mary's turn to feel that she was, for the first time in her life, about to be cut adrift--adrift, that is, as a world is adrift, on the surest of paths, though without eyes to see.

For ten days or so, she could form no idea of what she was likely or would like to do next.
But, when we are in such perplexity, may not the fact be accepted as showing that decision is not required of us--perhaps just because our way is at the moment being made straight for us?
Joseph called once or twice, but, for Letty's sake, they had no music.
As they met so seldom now, Mary, anxious to serve him as she could, offered him the loan of some of her favorite books.

He accepted it with a gladness that surprised her, for she did not know how much he had of late been reading.
One day she received an unexpected visit--from Mr.Brett, her lawyer.
He had been searching into the affairs of the shop, and had discovered enough to make him uneasy, and indeed fill him with self-reproach that he had not done so with more thoroughness immediately on her father's death.

He had come to tell her all he knew, and talk the matter over with her, that they might agree what proceedings should be taken.
I will not weary myself or my readers with business detail, for which kind of thing I have no great aptitude, and a good deal of incapacitating ignorance; but content myself with the briefest statement of the condition in which Mr.Brett found the affairs of Mr.
Turnbull.
He had been speculating in several companies, making haste to be rich, and had periled and lost what he had saved of the profits of the business, and all of Mary's as well that had not been elsewhere secured.

He had even trenched on the original capital of the firm, by postponing the payment of moneys due, and allowing the stock to run down and to deteriorate, and things out of fashion to accumulate, so that the business had perceptibly fallen off.