"That is what Mrs. Mitchell said."
"Who is Mrs. Mitchell?"
"A neighbour of ours. She said it was best to get 'durable riches.'"
"What sort of riches are they?"
"I don't quite know, but they are in the Bible; I read it there."
"Oh," said Clarice, "I don't know much of the Bible. Perhaps it would be better if I did, but father would not like me to spend time reading it. Will you have some more tea? No? Then we had better go down, and father and mother can come up. Father never likes to leave the counting-house unless one of us is there, but I don't see why he can't trust Dawson."
Owen followed his cousin downstairs. The shop was now brightly lighted up, and the fragrant smell of newly-ground coffee pervaded the place. Looking out at the door, he could see the twinkling lights of the pier at the end of the broad street, and the tall, dark masts of the vessels in the river; while nearer were rows of bright shops, and many feet hurrying past. It was a great change for the country-bred boy.
"What time do the people go to bed here?" he asked, as he returned to his cousin.
"Why, not yet for a long time."
"They all look as if it was the middle of the day, and in Westbrook every one was at home and quiet after tea."