For a few moments he stood looking at her, with a face in which agony and affection were blended.

Then he clasped his hands suddenly against his temples, and groaned aloud.
That groan penetrated the ears of his sleeping wife, who started up with an exclamation of alarm, as her eyes saw the gesture and expression of her husband.
"Oh, Henry! what is the matter?
Where have you been?
Why do you look so ?" she eagerly inquired.
Mortimer did not reply; but continued standing like a statue of despair.
"Henry! Henry!" cried his wife, springing towards him, and laying her hands upon his arm.

"Dear husband! what is the matter ?" "Ruined! Ruined!" now came hoarsely from the lips of Mortimer, and, with another deep groan, he threw himself on a sofa, and wrung his hands in uncontrollable anguish.
"Oh, Henry! speak! What does this mean ?" said his wife, the tears now gushing from her eyes.

"Tell me what has happened." But, "Ruined! Ruined!" was all the wretched man would say for a long time.

At last, however, he made a few vague explanations, to the effect that he would be compelled to stop payment on the next day.
"I thought," said Mrs.Mortimer, "that the sale of this house was to afford you all the money you needed." "It is not sold yet," was all his reply to this.