Without saying any thing to her husband, she had procured, from a friend who kept a fancy-store, and who took in from the ladies a great deal of work, some fine sewing; and with this she was busily occupied until his return, which did not take place on the first night until near eleven o'clock.
There was a slight drawback in the pleasure both felt in meeting at this late hour--the drawback of weariness.

Yet their hearts were tranquil and elevated in the consciousness that they were denying self for the good of another--and that one most tenderly beloved.

Again the way had become plain before them; and if strength only were given to bear their increased burdens, they would move on with even lighter footsteps than before.
And now, after having lingered thus long with the humble clerk, let us turn to the rich merchant; for Jasper has become a man of extensive possessions.

Wealth flowed in upon him with extraordinary rapidity--not in the regular course of trade, overreaching and unscrupulous as he was in dealing, but through what are called fortunate speculations.

How he made his first hundred thousand dollars--the basis of his present very large fortune--was not clearly understood, though sundry vague rumours on the subject were afloat, none of them, however, very near the truth, except in the admission that a fraud on somebody had been committed.