"Is that so!" I exclaimed, rising to my feet, all awake now to the real things which I had permitted a shadow to obscure. "Just what he told me," answered my clerk. "It has a bad look," said I. "How large a bill did he make with us?" The sales book was referred to. "Seventeen hundred dollars," replied the clerk. "What! I thought he was to buy only to the amount of a thousand dollars?" I returned, in surprise and dismay. "You seemed so easy about him, sir," replied the clerk, "that I encouraged him to buy; and the bill ran up more heavily than I was aware until the footing gave exact figures." I drew out my watch. It was close on to half past six. "I think, Edward," said I, "that you'd better step round to Kline & Co.'s, and ask if they've shipped B----'s goods yet. If not, we'll request them to delay long enough in the morning to give us time to sift the matter. If B----'s after a swindling game, we'll take a short course, and save our goods." "It's too late," answered my clerk. "B----called a little after one o'clock, and gave notes for the amount of his bill. He was to leave in the five o'clock line for Boston." I turned my face a little aside, so that Edward might not see all the anxiety that was pictured there. "You look very sober, Mr. Mayflower," said my good wife, gazing at me with eyes a little shaded by concern, as I sat with Arty's head leaning against my bosom that evening; "as sober as baby looked this morning, after his fruitless shadow chase." "And for the same reason," said I, endeavoring to speak calmly and firmly. "Why, Mr. Mayflower!" Her face betrayed a rising anxiety. My assumed calmness and firmness did not wholly disguise the troubled feelings that lay, oppressively, about my heart. "For the same reason," I repeated, steadying my voice, and trying to speak bravely. "I have been chasing a shadow all day; a mere phantom scheme of profit; and at night-fall I not only lose my shadow, but find my feet far off from the right path, and bemired. I called Arty a foolish child this morning. I laughed at his mistake. But, instead of accepting the lesson it should have conveyed, I went forth and wearied myself with shadow-hunting all day."