Poor old Arnold. 61

remembering all he said. I am very sorry for
Arnold."
 "Are you ? I don't think, were I in your
place, I should waste my sympathies on him.
He looks well and happy, he has a comfort-
able place without much to do, and I am sure
he gets his own way with all of us, we are so
attached to him."
 "Ah !" replied Edith, quickly, "it isn't that
Gilbert, he has so much unhappiness in his
family."
 I didn't know he had any belongings."
 "Didn't you ? Oh, yes, he has three chil
dren. His wife has been dead years and
years, and he had a nice little house of his
own, with a bit of ground, and enough money
to live comfortably; but then his sons didn't
turn out well. They got into debt, and at last
he was obliged to sell his little property to
help them; and his daughter, whom he loved
very much, had to go out to service."
 "This is indeed a sad story, Edie! Poor
old Arnold! I am sure I never knew what he
had to L Jar, or perhaps I should not have
teased him so much."
 "I don't think he minds your teasing;
 everything you do he seems to consider per-
 fection; he is very fond of all of us."