Letty accompanied her cousin to the door, and, to her surprise, saw John.
"What in the world brings you home in the middle of the day? You will get no dinner: I can tell you that."
"Never mind," said John, smiling. "Good news will do for dinner. Beckman will pay off all the creditors of the 'Penny Savings-Bank.' No one will lose a cent by him, after all."
"That is good news indeed," replied Letty. "How glad I am!—Not only for the money, but for the sake of Mr. Beckman himself. The poor man will be able to hold up his head again."
"Well, I declare! So you have got it all back," said Agnes. "What luck some people do have! But how came Beckman to pay?"
"Because he had a large legacy, and thought it right, I suppose, to pay his debts," replied John. "You see, Mr. Trescott was correct in saying that Beckman did not mean to be dishonest: he was only foolish in undertaking a business which he did not understand."
"Well," said Agnes, "I am glad you have your legacy back, I am sure. I only hope you will keep your money in your own hands this time, and not be misled by designing people, as you were before. Good-by, Letty. I shall be over about four."
"What has she been about?" asked John, when Agnes was out of hearing.
"Oh, never mind. Tell me when you heard all this good news."
"Mr. Street called me into his office and told me just now. He says all the claimants will be satisfied to the very last penny. Some of Beckman's friends say it would be a great deal better for him to use the money in setting himself up again in business, and that by that means he could pay off his indebtedness by degrees without such a sacrifice to himself; but he would not listen to them for a moment. He put the whole into Mr. Street's hands, that he might have it out of his own power."