gone through; each one with the endurance more bitter, suffering yet more intolerable, before the debtor can arrive at that system of reckless evasion which is the last stage of poverty. Hope and honesty must long have been left behind, one finer feeling must have, been crushed after another, and hunger been predominant, before debt can be held as other than the most intolerable shame, the most oppressive misery. Walter was yet young in his career, and he felt it bitterly.
At length, the creditor, tired of knocking to no purpose, and convinced that Maynard was not within, thrust a letter under the door, and his steps were heard slowly descending the oaken staircase. Walter could not breathe even when the echo of the last died into utter silence. He dreaded lest he should return. Lavinia sprang up; even her light feet jarred upon his ear: it seemed as if the least movement must recall the man again.
"Hush!" exclaimed he, in a broken voice.
"Nonsense!" replied the girl; "he won't come again to-day. Why, it is not much,"
