The Settlers in Canada | Page 5

courage."
"What then do you advise, Emily?" said Mr. Campbell.
"We must incur no more expense; our present establishment must be
dismissed at once. Send for all the servants to-morrow morning, and
explain what has occurred. This evening I will make it known to the
two girls and Miss Paterson, who must of course be discharged, as we
can no longer afford a governess. We must retain only the cook,
housemaid, and footman, and a groom to look after the horses until
they are sold. Send a letter to Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, to give notice
of an early sale of the furniture. You must write to Henry; of course, he
can no longer remain at college. We have plenty of time to consider
what shall be our future plans, which must depend much upon what
may prove to be our future means."
This judicious advice was approved of by Mr. Campbell. Miss Paterson
was greatly distressed when the news was communicated to her by Mrs.
Campbell. Mary and Emma Percival felt deeply for their kind
benefactors, but thought nothing of themselves. As Mrs. Campbell had
truly observed, they had been too well brought up. As soon as they
were informed of what had happened, they both ran to Mr. Campbell's
room, and hung upon his neck, declaring they would do all they could
to make him happy, and work for him, if necessary, from morning till
night.
The next day the whole household were summoned into the
dining-room, and made acquainted by Mr. Campbell with what had
taken place, and the necessity of their immediate removal. Their wages
had been calculated, and were paid them before they quitted the room,
which they all did with many expressions of regret. Miss Paterson
requested leave to remain with them as a friend for a few days longer,
and as she was deservedly a favorite, her request was acceded to.

"Thank heaven, that is over!" said Mr. Campbell, after all the
household had been dismissed. "It is quite a relief to my mind."
"Here's a letter from Alfred, uncle," said Emma Percival, entering the
room. "He has just arrived at Portsmouth, and says the ship is ordered
to be paid off immediately, and his captain is appointed to a fifty-gun
ship, and intends to take him with him. He says he will be here in a few
days, and"----
"And what, dearest?" said Mrs. Campbell.
"He says his time will be short, but he hopes you won't object to his
bringing two of his messmates down with him."
"Poor fellow! I am sorry that he will be disappointed," replied Mr.
Campbell. "You must write to him, Emma, and tell him what has
happened."
"I must write to him, uncle?"
"Yes, dear Emma, do you write to him," replied Mrs. Campbell; "your
uncle and I have much to attend to."
"I will, since you wish me," said Emma, the tears starting in her eyes,
as she quitted the room.
"Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, wishes to see you, sir," said the footman, as
he came in.
"Request that he will walk in," replied Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Bates, the auctioneer, came in, and presented a letter to Mr.
Campbell, who requested him to take a chair while he read it. It was
from Mr. Douglas Campbell, the new proprietor of the estate,
requesting Mr. Bates would ascertain if Mr. Campbell was willing that
the furniture, etc., should be disposed of by valuation, and if so,
requesting Mr. Bates to put a liberal value on it, and draw upon him for
the amount.

"This is very considerate of Mr. Douglas Campbell," observed Mrs.
Campbell; "of course, my dear, you can have no objection?"
"None whatever; return my best thanks to Mr. Douglas Campbell for
his kindness; and, Mr. Bates, if you can possibly value by to-morrow or
next day, I should esteem it a favor."
"It shall be done, sir," replied Mr. Bates, who then rose and took his
leave.
As soon as the valuation was finished, Mr. Campbell was enabled to
make an estimate of what remained to them out of the property, and
found that the whole sum amounted to between seventeen and eighteen
hundred pounds.
CHAPTER III.
It may appear strange that, after having been in possession of the estate
for ten years, and considering that he had younger children to provide
for, Mr. Campbell had not laid up a larger sum; but this can be fully
explained. As I before said, the estate was in very bad order when Mr.
Campbell came into possession, and he devoted a large portion of the
income to improving it; and, secondly, he had expended a considerable
sum in building almshouses and schools, works which he would not
delay, as he considered them as religious obligations. The consequence