There was a long pause.

"Close the shutters," said the sick man, at last; "I think I could sleep: and--and--pick up that letter." With a trembling, but eager gripe, he seized the paper, as a miser would seize the deeds of an estate on which he has a mortgage.

He smoothed the folds, looked complacently at the well-known hand, smiled--a ghastly smile! and then placed the letter under his pillow, and sank down; they left him alone.

He did not wake for some hours, and that good clergyman, poor as himself, was again at his post.

The only friendships that are really with us in the hour of need are those which are cemented by equality of circumstance.