But when she wasn't on duty at the bedside the crying went on just the

same; then the mother would try to comfort her, and say:

"Don't cry, dear, he never meant any harm; it was all one of those

happens that you can't guard against when you are trying experiments,

that way. You see I don't cry. It's because I know him so well.

I could never look anybody in the face again if he had got into such an

amazing condition as that a-purpose; but bless you his intention was

pure and high, and that makes the act pure, though it was higher than was

necessary. We're not humiliated, dear, he did it under a noble impulse

and we don't need to be ashamed. There, don't cry any more, honey."

Thus, the old gentleman was useful to Sally, during several days, as an

explanation of her tearfulness. She felt thankful to him for the shelter

he was affording her, but often said to herself, "It's a shame to let him

see in my cryings a reproach--as if he could ever do anything that could

make me reproach him! But I can't confess; I've got to go on using him

for a pretext, he's the only one I've got in the world, and I do need one

so much."

As soon as Sellers was out again, and found that stacks of money had been

placed in bank for him and Hawkins by the Yankee, he said, "Now we'll

soon see who's the Claimant and who's the Authentic. I'll just go over

there and warm up that House of Lords." During the next few days he and

his wife were so busy with preparations for the voyage that Sally had all

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The American Claimant