The planter laughed bitterly.
"I have offered you the utmost farthing I mean to offer," he said.
"I accept it," answered Silas. "Give me pen, ink and paper, and I'll draw up the document."
CHAPTER IV.
CORA'S WELCOME.
While the difficulties of the planter were becoming every day more painful to encounter, and more perilous to his future prospects of happiness, the good ship Virginia reached her destination, and in due time Mrs. Montresor and her two fair charges arrived at New Orleans.
Cora Leslie had given her father no warning of her coming. It had pleased the loving girl to think that she should creep to his side when he least expected her, and that the happy surprise of her arrival would come upon him in the midst of his troubles.
It was growing dusk on a lovely summer evening, when the travelers reached New Orleans. Bidding a hasty adieu to Adelaide Horton and Mrs. Montresor, with a promise to call upon them early the next day, Cora sprang into the carriage which Mortimer Percy had procured for her, requesting him to give the address to the driver.
"Your father is in town, Miss Leslie," said the young man. "You will have scarcely ten minutes' drive."
"Ten minutes!" cried Cora, eagerly. "In ten minutes, then, I shall see my father!"