Some　poor　woman；　in　a　moment　of　inspiration；　called　Miss　Blanche　〃The　sunshine　of　the　poor。〃　The　word　was　instantly　caught　up　in　the　parish；　and　had　now　this　many　years　gently　displaced　〃Lunley；〃　and　settled　on　her　here　below；　and　its　echo　gone　before　her　up　to　Heaven。
  The　poor　〃sunshine　of　the　poor〃　was　happy：　life　was　sweet　to　her。　To　know　whether　this　is　so；　it　is　useless　to　inquire　of　the　backbone　or　the　limbs：　look　at　the　face！　She　lay　at　her　window　in　the　kindred　sunshine；　and　in　a　world　of　sturdy；　able；　agile　cursers；　grumblers；　and　yawners；　her　face；　pale　its　ashes；　wore　the　eternal　sunshine　of　a　happy；　holy　smile。
  But　there　came　one　to　her　bedside　and　told　her　the　bank　was　broken；　and　all　the　money　gone　she　and　her　sisters　had　lent　Mr。　Hardie。
  The　saint　clasped　her　hands　and　said；　〃Oh；　my　poor　people！　What　will　become　of　them？〃　And　the　tears　ran　down　her　pale　and　now　sorrowful　cheeks。
  At　this　time　she　did　not　know　the　full　extent　of　their　losses。　But　they　had　given　Mr。　Hardie　a　power　of　attorney　to　draw　out　all　their　consols。　That　remorseless　man　had　abused　the　discretion　this　gave　him；　and　beggared　themthey　were　his　personal　friends；　tooto　swell　his　secret　hoard。
  When　〃the　sunshine　of　the　poor〃　heard　this；　and　knew　that　she　was　now　the　poorest　of　the　poor；　she　clasped　her　hands　and　cried；　〃Oh；　my　poor　sisters！　my　poor　sisters！〃　and　she　could　work　no　more　for　sighing。
  The　next　morning　found　〃the　sunshine　of　the　poor〃　extinct　in　her　little　bed：　ay；　died　of　grief　with　no　grain　of　egotism　in　it；　gone　straight　to　heaven　without　one　angry　word　against　Richard　Hardie　or　any　other。
  Old　Betty　had　a　horror　of　the　workhouse。　To　save　her　old　age　from　it　she　had　deposited　her　wages　in　the　bank　for　the　last　twenty　years；　and　also　a　little　legacy　from　Mr。　Hardie's　father。　She　now　went　about　the　house　of　her　master　and　debtor；　declaring　she　was　sure　he　would　not　rob　_her；_　and；　if　he　did；　she　would　never　go　into　the　poorhouse。　〃I'll　go　out　on　the　common　and　die　there。　Nobody　will　miss　_me。_〃
  The　next　instance　led　to　consequences　upon　consequences：　and　that　is　my　excuse　for　telling　it　the　reader　somewhat　more　fully　than　Alfred　heard　it。
  Mrs。　Maxley　one　night　found　something　rough　at　her　feet　in　bed。　〃What　on　earth　is　this？〃　said　she。
  〃Never　you　mind；〃　said　Maxley：　〃say　it's　my　breeches；　what　then？〃
  〃Why；　what　on　earth　does　the　man　put　his　breeches　to　bed　for？〃
  〃That　is　my　business；〃　roared　Maxley；　and　whispered　drily；　〃'tain't　for　you　to　wear　'em；　howsever。〃
  This　little　spar　led　to　his　telling　her　he　had　drawn　out　all　their　money；　but；　when　she　asked　the　reason；　he　snubbed　her　again　indirectly；　recommending　her　to　sleep。
  The　fact　is；　the　small…clothes　were　full　of　bank…notes；　and　Maxley　always　followed　them　into　bed　now；　for　fear　of　robbers。
  The　bank　broke　on　a　Tuesday：　Maxley　dug　on　impassive；　and　when　curious　people　came　about　him　to　ask　whether　he　was　a　loser；　he　used　to　inquire　very　gravely；　and　dwelling　on　every　syllable；　〃Doyouseeanythinggreenin　this　ere　eye。〃
  Friday　was　club　day；　the　clubsmen　met　at　the　〃Greyhound〃　and　talked　over　their　losses。　Maxley　sat　smoking　complacently；　and　when　his　turn　came　to　groan；　he　said　drily：　〃I　draad　all　mine　a　week　afore。　（Exclamations。）　I　had　a　hinkling：　my　boy　Jack　he　wrote　to　me　from　Canada　as　how　Hardie's　was　rotten　out　there；　now　these　here　bankers　they　be　like　an　oak　tree；　they　do　go　at　the　limbs　first　and　then　at　the　heart。〃
  The　club　was　wroth。　〃What；　you　went　and　made　yourself　safe　and　never　gave　any　of　us　a　chance？　Was　that　neighbourly？　was　thatclubbable？〃
  To　a　hailstorm　of　similar　reproaches；　Maxley　made　but　one　reply；　〃'Twarn't　_my_　business　to　take　care　o'　_you。_〃　He　added；　however；　a　little　sulkily；　〃I　was　laad　for　slander　once：　scalded　dog　fears　lue…warm　water。〃
  〃Oh；〃　said　one；　〃I　don't　believe　him。　He　puts　a　good　face　on　it　but　his　nine　hundred　is　gone　along　with　ourn。〃
  〃'Taiu't　gone　far；　then。〃　With　this　he　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket；　and；　after　some　delay；　pulled　out　a　nice　new　crisp　note　and　held　it　up。　〃What　is　that？　I　ask　the　company。〃
  〃Looks　like　a　ten…pun　note；　James。〃
  〃Welt　the　bulk　'grees　with　the　sample；　I　knows　where　to　find　eightscore　and　nine　to　match　this　here。〃
  The　note　was　handed　round：　and　on　inspection　each　countenance　in　turn　wore　a　malicious　smile；　till　at　last　Maxley；　surrounded　by　grinning　faces；　felt　uneasy。
  〃What　be　'e　all　grinning　at　like　a　litter　o'　Chessy　cats？　Warn't　ye　ugly　enough　without　showing　of　your　rotten　teeth　？〃
  〃Haw！　Haw！〃
  〃Better　say　'tain't　money　at　all；　but　only　a　wench's　curl　paper：〃　and　he　got　up　and　snatched　it　fiercely　out　of　the　last　inspector's　hand。　〃Ye　can't　run　your　rigs　on　me；〃　said　he。　〃What　an　if　I　can't　read　words；　I　can　figures；　and　I　spelt　the　ten　out　on　every　one　of　them；　afore　I'd　take　it。〃
  A　loud　and　general　laugh　greeted　this　boast。
  Then　Maxley　snatched　up　his　hat　in　great　wrath　and　some　anxiety；　and　went　out　followed　by　a　peal。
  In　five　minutes　he　was　at　home；　and　tossed　the　note　into　his　wife's　lap。　She　was　knitting　by　a　farthing　dip。　〃Dame；〃　said　he；　controlling　all　appearance　of　anxiety；　〃what　d'ye　call　that？〃
  She　took　up　the　note　and　held　it　close　to　the　candle。
  〃Why；　Jem；　it　is　a　ten…pound　note；　one　of　Hardie's_as　was。_〃
  〃Then　what　were　those　fools　laughing　at？〃　And　he　told　her　all　that　had　happened。
  Mrs。　Maxley　dropped　her　knitting　and　stood　up　trembling。　〃Why；　you　told　me　you　had　got　our　money　all　safe　out！〃
  〃Well；　and　so　I　have；　ye　foolish　woman；　and　he　drew　the　whole　packet　out　of　his　pocket　and　flung　them　fiercely　on　the　table。　Mrs。　Maxley　ran　her　finger　and　eye　over　them；　and　uttered　a　scream　of　anger　and　despair。
  〃These！　these　be　all　Hardie's　notes；〃　she　cried；　〃and　what　vally　be　Hardie's　notes　when　Hardie's　be　broke？〃
  Maxley　staggered　as　if　he　had　been　shot。
  The　woman's　eyes　flashed　fury　at　him。　〃This　is　your　work；　ye　born　idiot：　'mind　your　own　business；'　says　you：　you　_must_　despise　your　wedded　wife；　that　has　more　brains　in　her　finger　than　you　have　in　all　your　great　long　useless　carease：　you　_must_　have　your　secrets：　one　day　poison；　another　day　beggary：　you　have　ruined　me；　you　have　murdered　me：　get　out　of　my　sight！　for　if　I　find　a　knife　I'll　put　it　in　you；　I　will。〃　And　in　her　ungovernable　passion；　she　actually　ran　to　the　dresser　for　a　knife：　at　which　Maxley　caught　up　a　chair　and　lifted　it　furiously；　above　his　head　to　fling　at　her。
  Luckily　the　man　had　more　self…command　than　the　woman；　he　dashed　the　chair　furiously　on　the　floor；　and　ran　out　of　the　house。
  He　wandered　about　half　stupid；　and　presently　his　feet　took　him　mechanically　round　to　his　garden。　He　pottered　about　among　his　plants；　looking　at　them；　inspecting　them　closely；　and　scarce　seeing　them。　However；　he　covered　up　one　or　two；　and　muttered；　〃I　think　there　will　be　a　frost　to…night：　I　think　there　will　be　a　frost〃　Then　his　legs　seemed　to　give　way。　He　sat　down　and　thought　of　his　wedding…day：　he　began　to　talk　to　himself　out　loud；　as　some　people　do　in　trouble。　〃Bless　her　comely　face；〃　said　he；　〃and　to　think　I　had　my　arm　lifted　to　strike　her；　after　wearing　her　so　low？；　and　finding　her　good　stuff　upon　the　whole。　Well；　thank　my　stars　I　didn't　We　must　make　the　best　on't：　money's　gone；　but　here's　the　garden　and　our　hands　still；　and　'tain't　as　if　we　were　single　to　gnaw　our　hearts　alone：　wedded　life　cuts　grief　a　two。　Let's　make　it　up　and　begin　again。　Sixty　come　Martinmas；　and　Susan　forty…eight：　and　I　be　a'most　weary　of　turning　moulds。〃
  He　went　round　to　his　front　door。
  There　was　a　crowd　round　it；　a　buzzing　crowd　with　all　their　faces　turned　towards　his　door。
  He　came　at　their　backs；　and　asked　peevishly　what　was　to　do　now。　Some　of　the　women　shrieked　at　his　voice。　The　crowd　turned　about；　and　a　score　of　faces　peered　at　him：　some　filled　with　curiosity；　some　with　pity。
  〃Lord　help　us！〃　said　the　poor　man；　〃is　there　any　more　trouble　a　foot　to…day？　Stand　aside；　please；　and　let　me　know。〃
  〃No！　no！〃　cried　a　woman；　〃don't　let　him。〃
  〃Not　let　me　go　into　my　own　house；　young　woman？〃　said　Maxley　with　dignity：　〃be　these　your　manners？〃
  〃Oh；　James：　I　meant　you　no　ill。　Poor　man！〃
  〃Poor　soul！〃　said　another。
  〃Stand　aloof！〃　said　a　strange　man。　〃Who　has　as　good　a　right　to　be　there　as　he　have？〃
  A　lane　was　made　directly；　and　Maxley　rushed　down　between　two　rows　of　peering　faces；　with　his　knees　knocking　together；　and　burst　into　his　own　house。　A　scream　from　the　women　inside　as　he　entered；　and　a　deep　groan　from　the　strong　man　bereaved　of　his　mate；　told　the　tragedy。　Poor　Susan　Maxley　was　gone。
  She　had　died　of　breast…pang　within　a　minute　of　his　leaving　her；　and　the　last　words　of　two　faithful　spouses　were　words　of　anger。
  All　these　things；　and　many　more　less　tragic；　but　very　deplorable；　came　to　Alfred　Hardie's　knowledge；　and　galled　and　afflicted　him　deeply。　And　several　of　these　revelations　heaped　discredit　high　upon　Richard　Hardie；　till　the　young　man；　born　with　a　keen　sense　of　justice；　and　bred　amongst　honourable　minds；　began　to　shudder　at　his　own　father。
  Herein　he　was　alone；　Jane；　with　the　affectionate　blindness　of　her　sex；　could　throw　her　arms　round　her　father's　neck；　and　pity　him　for　his　lossesby　his　own　dishonestyand　pity　him　most　when　some　victim　of