Without a word more on either part, the brother and sister left the room, and started on their errand.
CHAPTER XXI.
LATE in the afternoon of the day on which occurred the incidents mentioned in the preceding chapter, Mr. Wilkinson, who had entirely recovered from his embarrassed condition, and who was now a sober man in every sense of the word, as well as a thrifty merchant, was standing at one of the counters in his large, well filled store, when a miserable looking creature entered and came back to where he stood.
"Good-day, Mr. Wilkinson," said the new-comer.
Surprise kept the merchant silent for some moments, when the other said—
"You don't know me, I presume."
"Henry Ellis!" exclaimed Wilkinson. "Is it possible you have fallen so low?"
"Just as you see me," was replied.
"You ought to be more of a man than this. You ought to have more strength of character," said Wilkinson, giving utterance to the first thought that came into his mind.