Ihaveadollarandthirtysevencentsinmypocketbook,andIdonotknowwhenI
shallgetanymore.\"
\"Doesn\'ttheparishoweyousomething?\"
\"Yes,butthetreasurertoldmeyesterday,whenIspoketohimonthesubject,thatwemustgivethemtimetopayit;thatitwouldcreatedissatisfactionifIpressedthematter.\"
\"Howdotheyexpectustolive?\"demandedMrs.Wilson,asnearlyindignantassomeekawomancouldbe.
\"Theythinkwecangetalongsomehow.Besides,thedonationpartytakesplacetomorrow.Mr.StilestoldmethatIcouldn\'texpecttocollectanythingtillthatwasover.\"
\"I
wishitwereover.\"
\"SodoI.\"
\"I
supposeitwillamounttoaboutasmuchastheothersdid.Peoplewillbringprovisions,mostofwhichtheywilleatthemselves.Whenitisoverwe\'llbethericherbyadozenpincushions,halfadozenpies,abushelofpotatoes,andafewknick-knacksforwhichwehavenoearthlyuse.\"
\"I
amafraid,mydear,youaregettingsatirical.\"
Thereismoretruththansatireinit,Theophilus,asyouknowverywell.Theworstofitisthatweareexpectedtobegratefulforwhatisonlyanadditionalburden.\"
\"Well,mydear,youarecertainlyright;butperhapswemaybemorefortunatetomorrow.\"
AtthispointRalphWilson,theminister\'soldestson,cameintotheroomtorecitealessonintheIliad,andtheconversationtookaturn.
\"I
amafraidRalphwillneverbeabletogotocollegeafterall,\"saidhismother.
\"I
don\'tseeanywayatpresent,\"saidtheminister;\"butIhopeitmaybearranged.Iwrotelastweektomyclassmate,ProfessorAmes,ofDartmouth,toinquirewhataidRalphcoulddependuponfromthebeneficiaryfunds.\"
\"Haveyouhadananswer?\"
\"I
receivedaletterthismorning.Fromwhathewritesme,Ijudgethathisnecessaryexpenseswillbeatleastfourhundreddollarsayear——\"
\"Nearlytheamountofyoursalary.\"
\"Andthathecanprobablyprocureaidtotheamountoftwohundredfromthebeneficiaryfunds.\"
\"Thenitishopeless.Youcannotmakeupthebalance.\"
\"I\'mafraidyou\'reright.Ithink,though,thatRalphshouldcontinuehispreparation,since,evenifheisonlypreparedtoenter,thatinsureshimagoodeducation.\"
\"I
mightdefrayapartofmyexpensesbyteachingschoolinwinter,\"
suggestedRalph,whohadlistenedintentlytoaconversationthatsonearlyconcernedhisfuture.
\"Youcouldteachduringthejuniorandsenioryears,\"saidhisfather.\"Ididsomyself.Duringthefirsttwoyearsyouwouldbetooyoung,anditwould,besides,beadisadvantage.\"
Sincethedonationvisithadbeendecideduponatthesewingcircle,ithadbeenaprominenttopicofconversationinthevillage.Thoughdesignedtogivesubstantialassistancetotheminister\'sfamily,itwasalsotobeafestiveoccasion——asortofministerialparty——andthuswasregardedasasocialevent.
Fairfingershadbeenbusilyatworkintheminister\'sservice,anditissafetosaythatatleasttenpincushionswereinprocessofmanufacture.ChiefamongthefairworkerswasClarissaBassett,whohadajustprideinthesuperiorsizeandmoreelaborateworkmanshipofherpincushions,ofwhichfourorfivewerealreadyonexhibitionintheWilsonhousehold.
\"I
supposeyouaregoingtothedonationparty,MissFrost,\"saidMissBassettcomplacently,forshehadthatmorningsetthelaststitchinwhatsheregardedasthehandsomestpincushionshehadevermade.
\"Yes,Iintendtogo.\"
\"HaveYougotyourgiftready?askedMissBassett,withnaturalcuriosity.
\"I
hopetohaveitreadyintime,\"saidMabel.
\"I
wishyoucouldseemypincushion,\"saidClarissa,withsubduedenthusiasm.
\"IthinkitisthebestIevermade.\"
\"IsMr.Wilson\'sfamilyinparticularneedofpincushions?\"askedMabel.
MissBassettdidnotdeigntonoticethequestionsuggestedbyMabel,consideringitquiteirrelevant.
\"I
alwaysgivepincushions,\"shesaid.\"PeoplesayIhaveatalentformakingthem.\"
Mabelsmiled.
\"I
havenotalentatallforthatkindofwork,\"shereturned.\"Ishouldnotventuretocompetewithyou.Butprobablyyourswillbeallthatwillberequired.\"
\"Oh,thereareseveralotherswhoaremakingthem,\"saidMissBassett;\"but,\"sheaddedcomplacently,\"Iamnotafraidtocompareminewithanythat\'llbebrought.OldMrs.Pulsifershowedmehersyesterday——suchalookingthing!Madeupofoddsandendsfromherscrapbag.
Itisn\'tfitforthekitchen.\"
\"SoMrs.Pulsiferisgoingtogiveapincushion,also?\"
\"Shealwaysdoes;butifIdidn\'tknowhowtomakeonebetterthansheI\'dgiveupaltogether.\"
\"DoesMrs.Wilsonuseagreatmanypins?\"askedMabel.
MissBassettstared.
\"I
don\'tknowassheusesanymorethananybodyelse,\"sheanswered.
\"How,then,cansheusesomanypincushions?Wouldn\'tsomeothergiftbemoreacceptable?\"Mabelinquired.
\"Oh,they\'llhaveotherthings——cakeandpiesandsuchthings.Itwouldn\'tbeappropriateformetogiveanythingofthatkind.\"
Thenextwastheeventfulday.Atfouro\'clockintheafternoonpeoplebegantoarrive.Theparsonagehadjustbeenputinorder,andtheministerandhiswifeawaitedtheirvisitors.
\"Isitnecessaryformetobehere?\"askedRalph.
\"Itwouldhardlylookwellforyoutobeaway,myson.\"
Iwillstayifyouwishit,ofcourse,father;butitalwayshumiliatesme.Itlooksasifwewerereceivingcharity.\"
\"I
confessIcan\'tquiteridmyselfofthesameimpression,\"saidhisfather;
\"butitmaybeafeelingofworldlypride.Wemusttrytolookuponitdifferently.\"
\"Whycan\'ttheygiveyouthevalueoftheirpresentsinmoney,orbyaddingtoyoursalary,father?\"suggestedRalph.
\"Theywouldnotbewilling.Wemustacceptwhattheychoosetogive,andintheforminwhichtheychoosetogiveit.\"
\"I
hope,father,Ishallsometimebeabletorelieveyoufromsuchdependence.\"
\"I
wish,foryourownsake,youmighthavetheability,myson,evenifIdidnotrequireit.\"
ThefirsttoarrivewasoldMrs.Pulsifer.Shecarriedinherhandahideouspincushion,answeringthedescriptionwhichMissBassetthadgivenofit.
\"I
madeitwithmyownhands,Mrs.Wilson,\"shesaidcomplacently.\"Astheapostlesays,`SilverandgoldhaveInone,butsuchasIhavegiveIuntothee.\'\"
\"Thankyou,Mrs.Pulsifer,\"saidtheminister\'swife,tryingtolookpleased,andfailing.
ThenextvisitorwasMrs.Slocum,whobroughtacoupleofdyspepticlookingpiesandaloafofbread.
\"I
thoughtyoumightneed\'emforthecompany\"shesaid.
\"Youareverykind,Mrs.Slocum,\"saidMrs.Wilson.ShewasquiteresignedtotheimmediateuseofMrs.Slocum\'sgift.
NextcameMrs.Breck.She,too,contributedsomepiesandcake,butofabetterqualitythanherpredecessor.CloseuponherfollowedClarissaBassett,bearingaloftthegorgeouspincushion,whichshepresentedwithacomplacentflourishtoMrs.Wilson.
\"It\'lldoforyourbestroom,Mrs.Wilson,\"shesaid.\"Iseeyou\'vegotonepincushionalready,\"eyingMrs.Pulsifer\'sofferingdisdainfully.
\"I
expectseveralmore,\"saidMrs.Wilson,smilingfaintly.\"Wearegenerallywellrememberedinthatway.\"
NextMrs.andMissRaymondsailedintotheroomandmadetheirwaytowheretheministerwas.
\"Mr.Wilson,\"saidClementina,withacharmingairofpatronage,\"wedonotbelongtoyourflock,butwecravetheprivilegeofparticipatinginthispleasantvisitandshowingourappreciationofyourministrations.Ihopeyouwillacceptthissmalltestimonialfrommymotherandmyself.\"
Sheleftintheminister\'shandsabottleofcologne,whichshehadpurchasedatthevillagestorethatmorningforfiftycents.
\"Thankyou,MissRaymond,\"saidMr.Wilsongravely,\"quiteasmuchforyourwordsasforyourgift.\"
Wasthereconscioussatireinthisspeech?Ifso,neitherMissRaymondnorhermotherunderstoodit.TheymadewayforMr.RandolphChester,who,indeed,hadescortedthemtotheparsonage.
\"Reverendsir,\"saidMr.Chesterwithelaborateformality,\"I
hardlyknewwhattobringyou,butIamsurethatbooksarealwayswelcometoliterarymen.MayIhopethatyouwillgivethisvolumeaplaceinyourlibrary?\"
AshespokehehandedtheministerasmalleditionofScott\'spoems,completeinonevolume,andinsuchfineprintastomakeitperilousforapersonofanyexceptthestrongesteyesighttoundertakeitsperusal.Mr.Chesteradmittedthathewasinindependentcircumstances,andMr.Wilsonhadhopedforapresentofsomerealvalue,buthefeltcompelledtoacceptthispaltrygiftwithanappearanceofgratitude.
Thenexthalfdozenarrivalswereladendownwithprovisions.Acommitteeofladiestookchargeofthese,andspreadalargetable,onwhichallthearticlesthatwerecookedwereatonceplaced.
Whilethiswasgoingon,Mrs.SquireHadleyarrivedwithadresspatternforMrs.
Wilson.Itwasacheapcalicooflargefigure,veryrepugnanttothetasteoftheminister\'swife,whoseheartsankwithinherassheacceptedit,forsheknewthatMrs.Hadleywouldneverforgiveherifshedidnothaveitmadeup.
Mrs.Hadleyhadgotitatabargainatthestore,whereithadlainontheshelvesforseveralseasonswithoutfindingapurchaser.
\"Dressgoodsarealwaysacceptable,Mrs.Wilson,\"shesaidwiththeairofoneconferringafavor.\"Ihopeyoumayfindthisofservice.\"
AndMrs.Wilsonwasobligedtothankher.
\"BrotherWilson,\"saidtheRev.AdoniramFryinacheeryvoice,\"IhopeIdonotintrude.Thefactis,Icouldn\'tkeepaway.IhopeyouwillnotbetooproudtoacceptasmallgiftfromyourMethodistbrother;\"
andheplacedintheminister\'shandafivedollarbill.
\"Thankyou,BrotherFry,\"saidMr.Wilson,graspinghishandcordially.\"IseeyouunderstandwhatImostneed;\"thislastremarkbeinginalowervoice.
\"I
oughtto,BrotherWilson.Ineveryetknewaministerwhocouldn\'tfindauseforafivedollarbill.\"
DeaconUriahPeabodyenterednext.
\"I\'vebroughtyouabushelofapples,parson,\"hesaid.\"Myboy\'llcarry\'emroundtothekitchen.Thisisajoyfuldayforyou.YourhousewilloverflowwiththebountiesofProvidence.\"
Suchspeechesasthesetheminister,inspiteofhismeekness,foundithardtolistentowithoutimpatience.
\"I
hopeitmay,\"hesaidgravely.\"Ishallbegladtohavemydailyanxietieslightened.\"
\"Theywillbe,\"saidthedeacon.\"Icalc\'lateyouwon\'ttohavetobuymuchforamonthtocome.\"
TheRev.Theophiluswasbetterinformed.Heknewthatallbutasmallremnantoftheprovisionsbroughtinwouldbeconsumedbeforethecompanydispersed,andthattwodaysmorewouldsufficetodisposeofthelastofthedonations.Buthedidnotventuretosaythis.Itwouldhavegivenseriousoffensetothevisitors,whofeltthattheminister\'sfamilycouldnotbegratefulenoughfortheirveryliberalgifts.
Mrs.
KentandMabelwerelate.TheformerhandedMr.Wilsonanenvelopecontainingatendollarbill.
\"A
jointgiftfromMissFrostandmyself,\"shesaid.\"Properlyitisnotagift,butasmallpartofwhatweoweyou.\"
Theministerbrightenedup,notonlybecausehesuspectedthattheenvelopecontainedmoney,whichwasthemostacceptableforminwhichadonationcouldcome,butbecausethewordsindicatedappreciation,andaproperestimateofhisrelationtothedonationvisit.TheyhelpedhimtobearthepatronizingmannerofMrs.Bennett,thebutcher\'swife,whofollowedwithtwocheapcollarsforMrs.Wilson.
\"Thingsisbrightenin\'upforyou,Mr.Wilson,\"saidshe.\"Timesishard,butwe\'redoin\'whatwecantohelpyoualong.I\'dliketodomoremyself,butmyhusbandhassomanybadbills,andsomuchtroubleincollectin\'hismoney,thatwe\'restraitenedwhenweshouldn\'tbe.\"
Theministerwaspainfullyawarethathewasoneofthedebtorswhofoundithardtopayhisbills,andheknewthatMrs.Bennett\'sspeechwasmeantforahint.
Supperwasbythistimeready,andtheladiesandgentlemenfiledouttothesuppertablewithalacrity.Itwas,doubtless,theconsciousnessthattheywereengagedinaphilanthropicactionthatincreasedtheappetitesofthegoodpeople.Atanyrate,therewasverylittleleftonthetablewhentherepastwasover.Allpresentseemedinexcellentspirits.Congratulationspouredinupontheministerandhiswife,who,itappearedtobethought,wereingreatluck.
\"Guessthis\'llputyouonyourfeet,parson,\"saidDeaconPeabody,alittlehuskily,forhehadstuffedhalfofalargedoughnutintohismouth.
\"Thepeoplehavecomefor\'ardveryliberaltoday.\"
\"Yes,\"saidtheministerunenthusiastically.
\"Remindsmeofthelandflowin\'withmilkan\'honey,\"resumedthedeacon.
\"Ifitcouldonlylast,\"thoughtMr.Wilson.Onordinarydaystherewassmallappearanceofplentyontheminister\'sfrugalboard,and,ashisguestswereconsumingaboutalltheybrought,thereseemedsmallchanceofanimprovement.
Therewasaturninthetide,however.Aparcelwasbroughtfromtheexpressoffice,containinganeatcashmeredress,entirelymadeup,forMrs.Wilson.ThiswasaccompaniedbyanotefromMaryBridgman,thedonor,tothiseffect:
DEAR
MRS.WILSON:——AsIstillretainyourmeasure,Ihave,madeupthisdressforyou,andtrustitmayproveagoodfit.Ihopeyouwillreceiveitinthesamespiritinwhichitwassent.Yourtruefriend,MARYBRIDGMAN.
Itwaslongsincetheminister\'swifehadhadanewdress,andtheprospectofanotherhadseemedremoteenough.Nothing,therefore,couldbemoretimelyandacceptable,andthelittlewoman,forthefirsttimeduringtheafternoon,seemedactuallycheerful.
\"I
hadnoideeMarywasdoin\'sowell,\"saidoldMrs.Slocum.\"Thatcashmeredressmusthavecostagooddeal.\"
\"MaryBridgmanwasalwaysextravagant,\"saidMrs.Hadleydisapprovingly.\"Idon\'tbelieveshesavesacent.\"
Mrs.
Hadleymayperhapshavefeltthatthedressmaker\'shandsomegiftwasatacitrebukeforhershabbyoffering.
Thusfartheonlygiftsofanyvaluehadbeenthedressjustmentionedandfifteendollarsinmoney.Itspokepoorlyfortheliberalityofanentireparish,especiallywhenitisconsideredthatthreeoutofthefourdonors——Mr.Fry,MaryBridgmanandMabelFrost——wereoutsiders.Mr.Wilsonwasnotmuchdisappointed.Ifanything,thevisithadbeenmoreremunerativethanheexpected.Tooneofhisscantyincomefifteendollarsincashwouldbeaconsiderablehelp.Hefeltthat,onthewhole,thedonationvisithad\"paid.\"
Buttherewasunexpectedgoodfortuneinstoreforhim.Ralphcameinwithaletterfromthepost-office,postmarkedNewYork.
\"I
wonderwhoitcanbefrom,father,\"hesaid.\"DoyouknowanyoneinNewYork?\"
\"OnlyMissBridgman,andwehaveheardfromher.\"
\"Betteropentheletter,parson,\"saidMrs.Pulsifer,whosecuriositywasexcited.\"We\'llallexcuseyou.\"
Thusadjured,theministerdidso.Asheread,hisfacebecameluminouswithjoy,andheferventlyejaculated,ThankGodforallHisgoodness!\"
\"Whatisit,parson?\"inquiredDeaconPeabody.
\"Myfriends,\"saidtheminister,clearinghisthroat,\"Iwantyoualltobepartakersofmyjoy.Iwillreadtheletter.ItisdatedNewYork.
\"REV.
MR.WILSON——DEARSIR:——IhavethisdaydepositedthesumoffivehundreddollarsintheGothamTrustCompanyofNewYorkcity,inyourname,andsubjecttoyourdraft.Pardonmefornotcommunicatingmyname.Restassuredthatitcomesfromonewhoappreciatesyourservices,andhopestobeconsideredyoursincerefriendandwellwisher.\"
Thereadingoftheletterproducedasensation.DeaconPeabodyaskedtoseeit.Heputonhisspectaclesandexamineditintently.
\"I
guessit\'sgenooine,\"hesaidcautiously.\"Really,ParsonWilson,itmakesyouarichman.\"
\"I
congratulateyou,Mr.Wilson,\"saidSquireHadley,cordiallyshakingtheminister\'shand.\"Weain\'tsoliberalaswemightbe,butI\'mgladtofindthere\'ssomebodythat\'sopenhanded.Here\'stendollarstoaddtoyourfivehundred.\"
\"Youoverwhelmme,SquireHadley,\"saidthegoodman.\"IfeelrebukedformywantoffaithinProvidence.ThismorningIawokewithaheavyheart.LittledidIdreamthattheburdenwasthisdaytoberolledaway.NowI
canstartfresh,andhenceforthIhopetopaymyway.\"
Itseemedoddwhatasuddenaccessionofrespecttherewasfortheministernowthathehadmoneyinthebank.
\"Oh,Mr.Wilson,don\'tyoubeinahurryaboutmyhusband\'slittleaccount,\"
saidMrs.Bennett.\"He\'llknowyou\'regoodforit,andthat\'lleasehismind.\"
\"Mrs.Bennett,\"saidtheministergravely,\"Iamobligedforyouroffer,butIshallattendtoyourhusband\'sclaimatonce.Ihavealwayswishedtopaymydebtspromptly.Nothingbutlackofabilityhasprevented.\"
Itwasquiteinorderthatconjecturesshouldbehazardedastotheunknowndonorofthismunificentgift.WhowasthereinNewYorklikelytofeelinterestedintheministerofGranville?SomeonesuggestedthatMr.RandolphChesterlivedinNewYork,andstraightwayhewasquestionedonthesubject.Hesmiled,andshruggedhisshoulders.
\"Mydearmadam,\"saidhetooldMrs.Pulsifer,\"ifIamthepersonIcertainlyshallnotownit.Iprefertoremainsilent.\"
ThisledtotheinferencethatMr.Chesterreallygavethemoney,thoughnoonehadsuspectedhimpreviouslyofanytendencytoliberality.Buttherewererivalclaimant\'s.TheRaymondswerefromBrooklyn,andgenerallysupposedtobewealthy.CouldtheybeMr.Wilson\'sunknownfriends?Whenitwassuggestedtothemtheyrepliedevasively,neitheradmittingnordenyingit.Soopinionwasdivided,butitwasgenerallythoughtthatitlaybetweenMr.ChesterandtheRaymonds.OfcourseitwasnotMaryBridgman,becauseshesentthehandsomedressforMrs.Wilson.
Theminister,however,didnotshareinthebelief.Hewasquitebaffledinhisconjecture;buthefeltconfidentthatthedepositwasnotmadebythegentlemanwhohadpresentedhimwithScott\'spoemsnorbythegiverofthebottleofcheapcologne.
Hisgoodfortunewasaninedays\'wonder,butthemysteryremainedunsolved.
Mr.Wilsonwentoutamonghispeoplewithanewhopeandcheerfulness,andseveralremarkedthathelookedtenyearsyoungerthanbeforethevisit.Lifelookedbrightertoallthelittlefamilyattheparsonage,andRalphbegantohopethatawaymightbeprovidedforhimtogotocollege,afterall.Itisalittleodd,too,thatnow,whentheministerwascomparativelyateaseinpecuniarymatters,thetreasureroftheparishbestirredhimselftocollectthearrearsofhissalary,andwithsuchgoodsuccessthatwithinaweekhewasabletomakeMr.Wilsonapaymentofseventyfivedollars.Sotrueisitthat\"Untohimthathathshallbegiven.\"SotheRev.Theophilus,whohadmeditatedajourneytoNewYork,todrawuponhisnewlygainedwealth,wasabletodefertheexpedition.
ItwasapleasantcircumstancethatnooneappearedtorejoicemoresincerelythanAdoniramFry,theMethodistminister,atthegoodluckofhisministerialbrother.Indeed,hisheartyfriendlinessdrewthetwoparishesintomorecordialrelations,suchassurelyshouldexistbetweenChristianpeopleworkingtogetherforacommonpurpose.
Meanwhilethesummerwaspassingrapidly,andMabel\'sschoolapproachedtheendofitsterm.TheGranvilleschoolclosedunusuallylateintheseason.Threeyearsbefore,anelderlyman,whohadallhislifelivedasabachelor,and,notwithoutreason,hadbeenregardedasamiser,astonishedeverybodybyleaving,inhiswill,thesumoftenthousanddollarstothetownasafund,theinteresttobedevotedtolengtheningthesummerschools.Thereasonassignedwasthatinthelongsummerholidayshehadbeenannoyedbythevillagechildrenenteringhisorchardandrobbinghisfruit,whichledhimtobelievethattheywouldbebetteroffifthevacationwereabridgedandtheschoolprolonged.
ItwasnearthemiddleofAugust,therefore,whenMabel\'slaborsclosed.Beforethedayofexaminationherexperiencewasmarkedbytwoeventswhichcallfornotice.
RandolphChesterhadfullymadeuphismindtosacrificehisbachelorindependence,andwearthefettersofamarriedman,ifMabelwouldaccepthishandandfortune.Thatshewoulddosohedidnotseriouslydoubt.HewasannoyedbythefrequencywithwhichhemetAllanThorpe,butnotgreatlyalarmed.
\"A
poorartist,likeThorpe,can\'tmarry,\"hereflected.\"Probablyheonlyearnsafewhundreddollarsayear,andMissFrosthasnothing.Evenifheventuredtoofferhimselfshecouldnotseriouslyhesitatebetweenhimandme.
Icanmakeherlifeeasy,and,thoughIamnotsoyoungasIoncewas,Iamwellpreserved.\"
Mr.
Chestersurveyedhimselfinthemirrorandmentallydecidedthatinspiteofcertaintelltalewrinklesabouttheeyesmostpersonswouldnottakehimforoverforty,whereasinrealityhewouldneverseefiftyagain.Donotsmileathisdelusion.Itisasufficientlycommononeamongpeopleofhisage.Indeed,itisnaturalenoughtoclingtothesemblanceofyouth.Evenphilosophershavebeenknowntosighoverthefastcomingwrinkles,andexpressawillingnesstoresignsomeoftheirtimeearnedwisdomfortheruddybloomofearlymanhood.
ThreedaysbeforetheschoolexaminationMr.Chesterfoundhisopportunity.HecalledatMrs.Kent\'sandfoundMabelalone.Hefeltthattheopportunitymustbeimproved.
\"I
shallattendyourexaminationexercises,MissFrost,\"hecommenced.
\"I
shallbegladtoseeyou,Mr.Chester.MayIcalluponyouforaspeech?\"
sheaddedmischievously.
\"Bynomeans,\"saidthebachelorhastily.\"Iamnotaccustomedtospeakonsuchoccasions.DoyouintendtoleaveGranvilleimmediatelyafterwards?\"
\"I
shallprobablyremaininthevillagetillthefirstofSeptember.\"
Probablysheexpectsanapplicationtokeepthefalltermofschool,\"thoughtMr.Chester.\"Iamgladtohearyousayso,MissFrost,\"headdedaloud.\"Wecouldhardlyspareyou.\"
\"Thankyou,Mr.Chester.Iamafraidyouhavelearnedtoflatter.\"
\"IndeedIhavenot,MissFrost,\"saidMr.Chester,earnestly.\"ImayaddthatI,perhaps,shouldmissyoumostofall.\"
Mabellookedathisfacequickly.Shesuspectedwhatwascoming.
\"I
amcertainlyobligedtoyouforyourappreciation,Mr.Chester,\"shereturned,withoutbetrayinganymaidenlyconfusion.
\"Itissomethingmorethanthat,\"saidthebachelorquickly,feelingthatthemomenthadcome.\"MissFrost——Mabel——Ihavelearnedtoloveyou.Iplacemyhandandfortuneatyourfeet.\"
\"Youareverykind,Mr.Chester,andIamdeeplyindebtedtoyouforthecomplimentyouhavepaidme;butIcannotmarrywithoutlove,andIdonotloveyou.\"
\"Itwillcomeintime,\"urgedMr.Chester.\"AllIaskisthatyoumarryme,andIwilltaketheriskofthat.\"
\"ButIcannot,\"saidMabel.\"Weshouldfindtoolatethatwehadmadeamistake.\"
Inspiteofhislove,RandolphChesterfeltalittleirritatedatMabel\'sindifferencetoherowninterests.
\"I
amafraid,MissFrost,\"hesaid,youdon\'tunderstandhowmuchIofferyou.Ipossessindependentmeans.Icanreleaseyoufromtheslaveryoftheschoolroom,andprovideforyoualifeofease.Wewillliveinthecityduringthegreaterpartoftheyear,andinthesummercometoGranville,oranyotherplaceyouwouldprefer.ItisnotanunpleasantlifeIofferyou.\"
\"I
don\'tthinkwetakethesameviewofmarriage,Mr.Chester,\"saidMabel.
\"Ishouldnotbewillingtomarryinordertoliveatease,ortoescapethe`slaveryoftheschoolroom,\'whichIhavefoundpleasant.Ithankyouforthecomplimentyouhavepaidme,butitisimpossible.\"
Shespokedecisively,andMr.Chestercouldnotescapetheconvictionthathisanswerwasfinal.Hewasnotoverwhelmedwithgrief,buthewasbitterlyangry.
\"Ofcourseyoucandoasyouplease,MissFrost,\"hesaidsharply.
