"The mines?" gasped Miss Belinda.     

       "S-silver-mines," wept Octavia. "And we had scarcely landed when Piper cabled, and pa had to turn back. It was something about shares, and he may have lost his last dollar."     

       Miss Belinda sank into a chair herself.     

       "Mary Anne," she said faintly, "bring me a glass of water."     

       Her tone was such that Octavia removed her handkerchief from her eyes, and sat up to examine her.     

       "Are you frightened?" she asked, in some alarm.     

       Miss Belinda took a sip of the water brought by her handmaiden, replaced the glass upon the salver, and shook her head deprecatingly.     

       "Not exactly frightened, my dear," she said, "but so amazed that I find it difficult to—to collect myself."     

       Octavia put up her handkerchief again to wipe away a sudden new gush of tears.     

       "If shares intended to go down," she said, "I don't see why they couldn't go down before we started, instead of waiting until we got over here, and then spoiling every thing."     

       "Providence, my dear"—began Miss Belinda.     

       But she was interrupted by the re-entrance of Mary Anne.     

       "The man from the Lion, mum, wants to know what's to be done with the trunks. There's six of 'em, an' they're all that 'eavy as he says he wouldn't lift one alone for ten shilling."     

       "Six!" exclaimed Miss Belinda. "Whose are they?"     

       "Mine," replied Octavia. "Wait a minute. I'll go out to him."     

       Miss Belinda was astounded afresh by the alacrity with which her niece seemed to forget her troubles, and rise to the occasion. The girl ran to the front door as if she was quite used to directing her own affairs, and began to issue her orders.     

       "You will have to get 

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