"Do you think father was in earnest in what he said?" inquired
Amelia.
"I have no reason to doubt his sincerity," replied George; "but what
led you to ask such a question?"
"Because, you know, he often speaks ironically; and, as he left the
dinner-room with mother, he smiled, and said something about the
poor, and a trick he was about to play."
"True, Amelia," replied George, "he is to play a trick; but it
concerns not us. You know poor old Smith is one of father's tenants.
Smith has been sick, and has not been able to procure funds with
which to pay his rent, and father intends to engage a person to take
out all the doors and windows of the house. He hopes Smith will thus
be forced to leave. I have been thinking whether we cannot devise
some plan to prevent the poor man from being turned thus abruptly
from the house."
"I am sure we can," replied Amelia; "yet I had much rather have a
trick played upon us than upon poor Smith. Can you not propose some
way by which we can prevent father from carrying out his
intentions?"
"I will give you the money," replied George, "if you will convey it
to Mr.
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