Then  we  could  have  asked  them  to  remain  with  us
until  John  came  home  and  agreed  with  them  about
their  wages.  But  instead  of  that  we  have  taken
their  labor  as  our  right.  I  must  do  now  what  I
know  John  would  have  done  long  ago  if  he  had  been
here."

But  good  is  only  half  good  when  it  is  past  season.
She  felt,  when  she  went  down  stairs,  that  her  resolve
had  come  too  late.  Already  there  were  changes  in
progress,  and  delay  had  robbed  duty  of  every  grace.
She  wandered  restlessly  about  the  house  and  garden
until  night-fall  had  brought  all  the  servants  into  the
kitchen  and  cabins ;  then  she  asked  Uncle  Isaac  to
gather  them  together.  He  was  a  very  old  man  ;  he
had  been  her  great-grandfather's  servant.  She
thought  if  any  love  or  gratitude  could  be  depended
upon  it  was  surely  his.
Very  reluctantly,  and  only  after  bitter  weeping,
Mrs.  Preston  had  consented  to  have  the  tie  broken  in
her  presence.  Cassia  was  certain  it  ought  to  be  so ;
she  wished  it  to  be  done  as  gently  as  possible,  and


14:  THE  LOST  SILVER  OF  BKIFFAULT.
