第4章

"I"lltellyouwhat,Mr.Wilson,wemustusealittlestrategy.Youshallseeacarpenter,andhavetheroofrepairedatyourownexpense."

"Mr.Wilson"scountenancefell."Ifear——"hecommenced.

"ButIwillrepayyouwhateveritcosts.Howwillthatdo?"

"Howkindyouare,SquireHadley!"

"ItisonlywhatIoughttodo,andwouldhavedonebeforeifIhadthoughthowtomanageit.AsMrs.Hadleywillwonderhowyouraisedthemoney,Iwillsayyouhadagiftfromafriend,andthatItoldyoutorepairthehouseatyourownexpense."

AfewdayslaterMrs.Hadleycamehomeinsomeexcitement.

"Mr.Hadley,"saidshe,severely,"Ifindthattheminister"shouseisbeingnewshingled."

"Isit?"askedherhusbandindifferently.

"Thisisthewayyouwasteyourmoney,isit?"

"WhathaveItodowithit?IfMr.Wilsonchoosestoshinglethehouseathisownexpense,Iamperfectlywilling."

"Didn"tyouorderitdone?"inquiredhiswife,inamazement.

"Certainlynot.Theministerspokeofitwhenhepaidtherent,andItoldhimhecoulddoitathisownexpenseifhechoseto."

"That"sjustwhatyououghttohavesaid.ButIdon"tunderstandwheretheministerfindsthemoney,ifheissopoorasyousayheis."

"I

understandthathehasreceivedagiftofmoneyfromafriend,"saidthediplomaticSquire.

"I

didn"tknowhehadanyfriendlikelytogivehimmoney.Doyouknowwhoitis?"

"Hedidn"ttellme,andIdidn"tinquire,"answeredtheSquire,pluminghimselfonhisstrategy.

"Wasitalargesum?"

"I

don"tthinkitwas."

"I

wishhisfriendhadgivenhimenoughtopayforpaintingthehouse,too."

"Why?Thehousewouldn"tbeanywarmerforpainting,"saidtheSquireslyly.

"Itwouldlookbetter."

"Andsoministertohisvanity."

"Youseemtobeverystupidthismorning,"saidMrs.Hadley,provoked.

"I

amonlyrepeatingyourownobservations,mydear."

"IfMr.Wilsoncanaffordtopaintthehouse,Iaminfavorofhisdoingit;

butIdon"tthinkyouhaveanycalltopayforit.Thehousewillbebetterpropertyifitisnewlypainted."

"Thendon"tyouthinkIoughttodoit,Lucretia?"

"No,Idon"t,"saidMrs.Hadleysharply.

"I

thinkmyself,"saidthewilySquire,"consideringthelowrateatwhichtheministergetsthehouse,hecouldaffordtoputononecoatofpaintathisownexpense.Ihaveagreatmindtohintittohim."

"You"dbetterdoit,Mr.Hadley,"saidhiswifeapprovingly.

"I

will;butperhapshewon"tlookatitinthesamelight."

Withinaweekthepainterswereatworkontheparsonage.Thecoatofpaintimproveditsappearanceverymuch.Isuspectthebillwaspaidinthesamewayastheshingling;butthisisasecretbetweentheministerandSquireHadley,whosestrategyquitebaffledhiswife"spenetration.

Chapter6

"Please,MissFrost,thesewingsocietyisgoingtomeetatourhousethisafternoon,andmotherwantsyoutocomeroundafterschool,andstaytosupper."

ThespeakerwasAnniePeabody,daughterofDeaconUriahPeabody,amanwholivedinagroove,andjudgedallmenaccordingtohisownexperienceoflife,whichwasverylimited.Hewasanaustere,oldfashionedCalvinist,whobelievedthatatleastnineteentwentiethsofhisfellowmenwereelectedtoperdition.Mr.

Wilson"stheologywasnotsternenoughtosuithim.Hecharacterizedtheminister"ssermonsasmilkandwater.

"Whatwewant,parson,isstrongmeat,"hemorethanonceremarkedtotheminister."You"realwaysexhortin"mentodoright.Idon"ttakemuchstockinthatkindoftalk."

"WhatshallIpreachthen,DeaconPeabody?"askedtheministermildly.

"IfIwereaministerI"dstirupthesinners,"saidthedeaconemphatically.

"Howwouldyoudoit?"

"I"ddescribethelakeoffire,andthetormentsofthedamned,an"let"emunderstandwhatispreparedfor"emiftheydon"tfearGodanddohiscommandments."

Theministershudderedalittle.Hewasamanofsensitiveorganization,uponwhomthesegloomysuggestionsjarredunpleasantly."Ican"tpaintsuchluridpictures,deacon,"heanswered;"nordoIfeelthattheywoulddoanygood.Idon"twanttopaintourMakerasacrueltyrant,butasamercifulandconsiderateFather."

"I"mafeared,parson,thatyouain"tsoundinthedoctrines.orknowwhattheScripturessay,`Vengeanceismine;Iwillrepay,saiththeLord.""

"Wealsoread,`Likeasafatherpitiethhischildren,sotheLordpitieththemthatfearhim.""

"Butsupposetheydon"tfearhim,"saidthedeacontriumphantly.

"I

believeinthepunishmentofsin,"returnedMr.Wilson."Wecannoterrwithoutincurringthepenalty,butIbelieveGod,inpunishingthesinner,doesnotceasetolovehim.`Whomhelovethhechasteneth:"or,aswehavearighttosay,helovesthosethathechastens."

"I

don"tknowaboutthat,"saidthedeacon."Ithinkthat"stwistin"

Scripturetoourownends.Howmanydoyouthinkaregoin"tobesaved,ParsonWilson?"

"I

cannothazardaconjecture,deacon.HeavenforbidthatIshouldseektolimitthegoodnessandmercyofGod."

"Doyouthinkaquarterwillbesaved?"persistedthedeacon.

"OfcourseIdon"tmeantheheathen.Thereain"tnohopeforanyofthem,unlessthey"vebeenconvertedbythemissionaries.Imeanofthemthat"sbroughtupunderChristianinstitutions."

"A

quarter?Mostcertainly.IfIfeltthatthreequartersoftheraceweredestinedtobelost,mysoulwouldbeweigheddownwithgrief."

"Well,formypart,"saidthedeacon,"I"venoideathatasmanyasaquarterwillbesaved.AboutoneintwentyisfullashighasIcalc"lateon."

"GoodHeavens!DeaconPeabody,youcan"tbeinearnest."

"Yes,Ibe.Why,ParsonWilson,lookatthepeopleastheyare,"(thedeaconpronounceditair)——"ain"ttheysteepedinfollyandvice?Ain"ttheycarnallyminded?Ain"ttheylivin"forthisworldwithoutnothoughtoftheother?Airtheyfitforthemansionsoftheblest?Tellmethat."

Thedeacon"svoiceroseinasortofcrescendo,andheputthelastquestiontriumphantly.

"WearenoneofusfitforHeaven,"repliedtheminister,"butwecanrelyonGod"smercy.Yourdoctrineissimplyhorrible.Ifbutoneintwentyistobe,saved,don"tyoufeelanxiousaboutyourownsoul?"

"OfcourseI"mapoor,miserablesinner,"saidthedeaconcomplacently;"butI"maprofessin"Christian,andIhavefaithinChrist.

IthinkIcomewithinthepromises."

"Supposeyouweresureofyourownsalvation,doesn"tthethoughtofthemillionswhoaretoperishevergiveyouanguish?"

"OfcourseI"msorryforthepoor,deludedsinners,"saidthedeacon,whomanagedneverthelesstomaintainacheerfulexterior;"butthepeaceofGodremainsinmysoul,andIdon"tallowthefollyofotherstodisturbme."

Theministershookhishead.

"IfIbelievedasyoudo,deacon,"hesaid,"Icouldnotclosemyeyesatnight.Icouldnotrejoiceinthebrightsunshineandgloriousbeautyofoutwardnature.Ishouldputonsackclothandashes,andpouroutmysoultoGodinearnestprayerthathewouldturnhissoulfromwrath."

"I

don"tfeellikeinterferin"withGod"sarrangements.I"venodoubtthey"reforthebest."

"YouthinkitbestthatallheathenandnineteentwentiethsofthosethatliveinChristiancountriesshouldbedamned?"askedtheministerwithsomevehemence.

"Ifit"stheLord"swill,"saidDeaconPeabody,inasanctifiedtone,"I"mresignedtoit."

DeaconPeabodyshouldhavelivedatleastfiftyyearsearlier.Hefoundfewofhiscontemporariestoagreewithhiminhisrigidnotions.MostoftheparishsympathizedratherwiththemildertheologyofMr.Wilson.Haditbeenotherwise,hadthedeaconthoughtitpossibletoobtainapreacherinharmonywithhisownsternviews,hewouldhaveheadedamovementtogetridoftheminister.Asitwas,hecontentedhimselfwithprotesting,inpublicandprivate,againstwhatheregardedasperniciousandblindingerror.

Thishasbeenalongdigression,butthedeaconwasaprominentmaninGranville,andinterestingastherepresentativeofaclassnumerousinPuritandays.

WhenMabelenteredthedeacon"sparlor,afterschoolwasover,shefoundsomedozenladiescongregated,includingthemostprominentmatronsofGranville.TherewerebuttwootheryoungladiesbesidesMissFrost.OneofthemwasMissClarissaBassett,theotheragrownupdaughterofthedeacon——MissCharityPeabody,whowasnotedforalackofthatvirtuewhichhadbeengivenherasadesignation.Mrs.Peabody,instrangecontrasttoherhusband,hadaheartoverflowingwithkindness.andwasdisposedtolookonthebestsideofeverybody.

"I

amverygladtoseeyou,MissFrost,"saidMrs.Peabodycordially,advancingtomeettheschoolteacher."I"vemeanttocall,butIcouldn"tseemtogettime.Isupposeyouknowsomeoftheseladies.I"llintroduceyoutosuchasyoudon"tknow."

SoMabelmadetheroundsandwasgenerallyintroduced.Thoughthesocietywassounlikethatinwhichshehadbeenaccustomedtomingle,shehadanaturalgraceandtactwhichcarriedherthroughtheordealeasilyandnaturally.ShefinallyfoundaseatnexttoMrs.PriscillaPulsifer,anoldladyofaninquiringturnofmind,whowasanewacquaintance,andpromptlyseizedtheopportunitytocross-examineMabel,asshehadlongdesiredtodo.

"You"rethenewschoolteacher,ain"tyou?"

"Yes,Iam."

"Howoldbeyou?"askedtheoldlady,glaringatherthroughherglasses.

"Twentytwo,"answeredMabel,resentingwhatsheconsideredanimpertinentquestionbyacounterinquiry.Howoldareyou,Mrs.

Pulsifer?"

"Seventyone;andIain"tashamedon"t,either,"answeredtheoldlady,bridling.

Mabelwasalreadysorryforherquestion."Ageisnotathingtobeashamedof,"shesaid."Youdon"tlooksooldasthat."

"Sofolkssay,"saidMrs.Pulsifer,quiteappeased,andresumingherinquiries:"You"refromthecity,ain"tyou?"

"Yes."

"Evertaughtafore?"

"Thisismyfirstschool."

"Howdoyouliketeachin"?"

"BetterthanIexpected.Ifeelrepaidformylaborbywatchingtheprogressofthescholars."

"Howmuchwagesdoyouget?"askedtheoldladypractically.

"Sevendollarsaweek."

"That"spootygoodpayforasinglegal,"remarkedMrs.Pulsifer.

"Youdon"thaveanybodydependentonyou?"

"Doyoumeanahusband,Mrs.Pulsifer?"askedMabel,hereyessparklingwithfun.

"I

didn"tknowbutyoumighthaveamother,orbrotheran"sister,tosupport."

"No,"saidMabelsadly,"Iamaloneintheworld."

"Sho!Is"poseyoucalc"lateonbein"marriedsometime,"saidtheoldlady,withdirectness.

"PerhapsImaybe,"saidMabel,amused,"butIcan"tsayI

calculateonit."

"I

guessyoucangetsomebodytomarryyou,"saidthepracticaloldlady.

"You"regoodlookin",andarelikelytopleasethemen.ClarissaBassett"striedhard,butsomehowshedon"tmakeout."

MissBassettwassittingattheotherendoftheroom,and,fortunately,wasengagedinconversationwithMrs.Hayden,sothatshedidnothearthislastremark.

"Thankyou,"saidMabeldemurely."Youquiteencourageme."

"IwastwentyfivemyselfbeforeIwasmarried,"continuedMrs.

Pulsifer."NotbutwhatIhadoffersbefore.Maybeyou"vehadachance?"andtheoldladyscrutinizedMabel"scountenance.

"MaybeIhave,"sheanswered,wantingtolaugh.

"That"sapootygownyouhaveon,"saidMrs.Pulsifer,herattentiondivertedbyMabel"sdress."Wasitmadeinthecity?"

"Yes."

"Lookslikenicecloth,"continuedMrs.Pulsifer,takingafoldbetweenherthumbandfinger.

"I

thinkitis,"answeredMabel."Howmuchwasitayard?"

"I"mafraidIdon"tremember,"Mabelreplied.

Thefactis,shehadintrustedthepurchaseofhersummerdressestoherdressmaker,whorenderedherthebillinalump.Iftherewereanydetailsshedidnotrememberthem.

"That"sstrange,"saidtheoldlady,staring."IknowthepriceofalltheclothesIeverbought."

"YouprobablyhaveabettermemorythanI,"saidMabel,hopingbythiscomplimenttoturntheattack,butinvain.

"Haven"tyouanyideeoftheprice?"askedtheoldlady.

"Itmayhavebeenadollarayard."

"Howmanyyardsdidyouget?"

"I——

amnotsure."

"Howmuchdidyoupayforthatcollar?"

"I

amreallysorryIcan"ttellyou,"saidMabel,whofeltsomewhatembarrassed.

"Perhapsyoudon"tliketotell."

"I

wouldtellyouwithpleasure,ifIknew."

""Pearstomeyoumustbeapoormanagernottokeepmoreaccountofyourexpenses,"saidMrs.Pulsifer.

"I

amafraidIam,"saidMabel.

"Howmanydressesdidyoubringwithyou,MissFrost?"

Theoldlady"scatechizingwasgettingannoying,butMabelunderstoodthatshemeantnooffenseandansweredpatiently,"Six."

"Didtheyallcostasmuchasthis?"

"I

shouldthinkso."

"I

don"tseehowyoucanaffordtospendsomuchondress,"saidMrs.

Pulsifer,"consideringyouhaveonlysevendollarsaweeksalary."

"I

shalltrytobemoreprudenthereafter,Mrs.Pulsifer."

"You"dbetter.Themenwillbeafraidtomarryyouiftheythinkyou"reextravagant.ItoldmysonJotham,`Jotham,"saysI,`don"tyoumarryawomanthatwantstoputallhermoneyonherback."SaysI,`Anextravagantwifeisacursetoamanthatwantstobeforehanded.""

"Didyoursonfollowyouradvice?"

"Yes;

hemarriedalikelygirlthatmakesallherowndresses.Jothamtoldmeonlylastweekthathedidn"tbuyherbutonedressalllastyear."

"Youmustbepleasedwithyourdaughter-in-law,Mrs.Pulsifer."

"Yes;she"sprettygoodaswivesgonowadays,butIdon"tthinkshe"sagoodcook."

"Thatisapity."

"Canyoucook,MissFrost?

"I

don"tknowmuchaboutcooking."

Sho!

You"llwanttoknowhowwhenyou"remarried."

"WhenIseeanychanceofmarryingImeantotakelessons,"saidMabel.

Justthen,toMabel"srelief,supperwasreportedtobeready,andthemembersofthesewingsocietyfiledoutwithalacritytothesittingroom,wherealongtablewasbountifullyspreadwithhotbiscuit,preserves,andseveralkindsofcakeandpies.Themistressofthehousehold,ratherflushedbytheheatofthekitchen,welcomedherguests,andrequestedthemtotakeseats.MabeltookcarenottositintheneighborhoodofMrs.Pulsifer.Theoldlady"scuriosityhadcometobeannoying,yetcouldnotwellberesented.

ShecongratulatedherselfonfindinghernextneighbortobeMrs.Wilson,theminister"swife,asmallwoman,inawellwornsilk,tenyearsold,whichhadbeenheronly"companydress"duringthatentireperiod.Therewasalookofpatientanxietyonthegoodwoman"sfacewhichhadbecomehabitual.Shewassorelyperplexedatalltimestomakebothendsmeet.Evennowshewasuncomfortableinmindfromthisverycause.DuringthemorningMr.Bennett,thebutcher,hadcalledattheparsonage,andurgentlyrequestedpaymentforhis"littlebill."Itamountedtoonlytwentyfivedollars,buttheminister"sstockofreadymoneywasreducedtofivedollars,andtopaythisonaccountwouldhavelefthimpenniless.Hiscandidstatementofhispecuniaryconditionwasnotwellreceived.

"I

don"tthinkpeopleoughttobuymeatiftheycan"tpayforit,"saidthebutcherbluntly.

"Theparishisowingmemorethantheamountofyourbill,Mr.

Bennett,"saidtheperplexedminister."JustassoonasIcancollectthemoney——"

"I

needitnow,"saidthebutchercoarsely."Ihavebillstopay,andI

can"tpaythemunlessmycustomerspayme."

"I

wishIcouldpayyouatonce."saidMr.Wilsonwistfully."Wouldyoutakeanorderontheparishtreasurer?"

"No;he"ssoslackitwouldn"tdo,meanygood.Can"tyoupayhalftoday,Mr.Wilson?"

"I

havebutfivedollarsonhand,Mr.Bennett;Ican"tpayyouthewholeofthat.

Iwilldivideitwithyou.""Twodollarsandahalf!Itwouldbeonlytenpercentofmybill."

Heclosed,however,byagreeingtotakeit;butgrumbledashedidso.

"Thesethingstrymeagooddeal,"saidtheminister,withasigh,afterthedepartureofhiscreditor."IsometimesthinkIwillleavetheprofession,andtrytofindsomebusinessthatwillpaymebetter."

"Itwouldbehazardoustochangenow,Theophilus,"saidhiswife.

"Youhavenobusinesstraining,andwouldbeaslikelytodoworseasbetter."

"Perhapsyouareright,mydear.Isupposewemustworryalong.Doyouthinkwecouldeconomizeanymorethanwedo?

"I

don"tseehowwecan.I"velainawakemanyanightthinkingwhetheritwouldbepossible,butIdon"tseehow.Wecouldn"tpinchourtableanymorewithoutriskinghealth."

"I

amafraidyouareright."

"WhynotcallonMr.Ferry,thetreasurer,andseeifhecannotcollectsomemoremoneyforyou?"

"I

willdoso;butIfearitwillbeofnouse."

Theministerwasright.Mr.Ferryhandedhimtwodollars.

"ItisallIhavebeenabletocollect,"hesaid."Moneyistight,Mr.Wilson,andeverybodyputsoffpaying."

ThiswaswhatmadeMrs.Wilson"sfaceashademorecarewornthanusualonthisparticularday.Toaddtohertrouble,Mrs.Bennett,thewifeofherhusband"screditor,whowasalsoamemberofthesewingcircle,hadtreatedherwithgreatcoolness,andalmostturnedherbackuponher.Theminister"swifewassensitive,andshefelttheslight.When,however,shefoundMabelatherside,shesmiledpleasantly.

"I

amgladtohaveachancetothankyou,MissFrost,forthepainsyouhavetakenwithmylittleHenry.Hehasneverlearnedsofastwithanyteacherbefore.Youmusthavespecialtalentforteaching."

"I

amgladifyouthinkso,Mrs.Wilson.Iamanovice,youknow.IhavesucceededbetterthanIanticipated."

"Youhavesucceededinwinningthechildren"slove.Henryisenthusiasticaboutyou."

"I

don"tthinkIshouldbewillingtoteachunlessIcouldwinthegoodwillofmyscholars,"saidMabel,earnestly."Withthat,itisverypleasanttoteach."

"I

canquiteunderstandyourfeelings.BeforeImarriedMr.Wilson,Iservedanapprenticeshipasateacher.IbelieveIfailedasadisciplinarian,"sheadded,smilingfaintly."ThecommitteethoughtIwasn"tstrictenough."

Iamnotsurprised,"saidMabel."Youlooktookindtobestrict."

"I

believeIwastooindulgent;butIthinkIwouldrathererrinthatthanintheoppositedirection."

"I

fancy,"saidMabel,"thatyoumustfindyourpositionasaminister"swifealmostasdifficultaskeepingschool."

"Itcertainlyhasitshardside,"saidMrs.Wilsoncautiously;forshedidnotventuretospeakfreelybeforesomanyofherhusband"sparishioners.

JustthenMrs.Bennett,thebutcher"swife,whosatontheoppositesideofthetable,interruptedtheirconversation.Shewasalarge,coarselookingwoman,witharedfaceandaloudvoice.

"MissFrost,"shesaid,inatoneofvoiceaudibletoalltheguests,"Ihaveabonetopickwithyou."

Mabelarchedherbrows,andmettheglanceofMrs.Bennettwithquiethaughtiness.

"Indeed!"saidshe,coldly.

"Yes,indeed!"repliedMrs.Bennett,provokedbythecoolindifferenceoftheschoolteacher.

"Pleaseexplain,"saidMabelquietly.

"YoupromotedtwogirlsinmyFlora"sclass,andletherstaywhere,shewas."

"I

wouldhavepromotedherifshehadbeencompetent."

"Whyain"tshecompetent?"Mrs.Bennettwenton.

"Ofcoursetherecanbeonlyoneanswertothatquestion,Mrs.Bennett.

Sheisnotsufficientlyadvancedinherstudies."

SheknowsasmuchasJuliaFletcherorMaryFerris,anyday,"retortedMrs.

Bennett.

Supposewedeferourdiscussiontillweleavethetable,"saidMabel,"

findingitdifficulttoconcealherdisdainforherassailant"sunmannerlyexhibition.

Mrs.

Bennettdidnotreply,butsheremarkedaudiblytothewomanwhosatnexttoher;"Theschoolteacher"sratheruppish."Pearstomeshe"scarryin"

thingswithahighhand."

"Youseeaschoolteacherhashertrials,Mrs.Wilson,"saidMabel,turningtoherneighborwitharatherfaintsmile.

"I

feelforyou,"saidtheminister"swifesympathetically.

"Thankyou,butdon"tsupposeIminditatall.Ishallexercisemyowndiscretion,subjectonlytothecommittee.Iamwhollyindependent."

"I

wishIcouldbe,"sighedMrs.Wilson;"butnoonecanbelesssothanaminister"swife."

"Isyourhusbandtobeherethisevening?"askedMabel.

"Hehasabadheadacheandwasunabletocome.Ishallgohomeearly,asI

maybeneeded."

Infact,abouthalfanhourlater,Mrs.Wilsonmadeanapologyandtookherleave.

"Mrs.Wilsonislookingpaleandcareworn,"saidMrs.Kent.

"Don"tyouthinkso,Mrs.Hadley?"