第5章

"Shehasn"tmuchenergyabouther,"repliedtheSquire"swife.

"Ifshehad,theministerwouldgetalongbetter."

"I

thinkshe"snosortofmanager,"saidMrs.Bennett."Sherunsherhusbandintodebtbyhershiftlessways."

"I

thinkyou"remistaken,"saidMrs.Prattquietly."Iknowherwell,andIconsiderheranadmirablemanager.Shemakesalittlegoasfarasshecan,andasfarasanyoneelsecould."

"I

onlyknowmyhusbandcan"tgethisbillpaid,"Mrs.Bennettwenton.

"Hepresenteditthismorning——twentyfivedollars——andonlygottwodollarsandahalf.Seemstometheremustbepoormanagementsomewhere."

ItwouldbeunfairtothefemininityofGranvilletosaythatMrs.Bennettwasafairspecimenofit.ExceptMrs.Hadley,therewasnotonewhodidnotlookdisgustedathercoarsenessandbadbreeding.

"Youmustexcuseme,Mrs.Bennett,"saidMrs.Kent,"butIdon"tthinkthatfollows,byanymeans,fromwhatyousay."

"Thenhowdoyouexplainit?"askedthebutcher"swife.

"ThetroubleisthatMr.Wilson"ssalaryistoosmall."

"Heoughttoliveonfivehundreddollarsayear,Ithink,"saidMrs.

Hadley;"especiallywhenhegetshisrentsocheap."

"Isfivehundreddollarsactuallytheamountofhissalary?"askedMabel,amazed.

"Yes."

"Howdoyouexpecthimtosupporthisfamilyonsuchanamountasthat?"sheexclaimedalmostindignantly.

"Itisverysmall,MissFrost,"saidMrs.Pratt,"butIamafraidwecouldn"tpaymuchmore.Noneofusarerich.StillIthinksomethingoughttobedonetohelpMr.Wilson.Whatdoyousay,ladies,toadonationvisit?"

"It"sjustthething,"saidClarissaBassettenthusiastically.

Itmaybebetterthannothing,"saidMrs.Kent;"butIamafraiddonationvisitsdon"tamounttoasmuchaswethinktheydo."

Theproposal,however,wasgenerallyapproved,andbeforethemeetingcloseditwasdecidedtogivetheministeradonationvisitafortnightlater.

"Shallyoubepresent,MissFrost?"askedMrs.Pratt.

"Oh,yes,Iwon"tfailtoattend."

"Yourcolleague,MissBassett,alwayscarriesalargepincushiononsuchoccasions.Theministermusthaveatleastfiveofhermanufacture."

"Inthatcase,"saidMabel,smiling,"IthinkIwillchooseadifferentgift."

Chapter7

Afeweveningslater,atMrs.

Pratt"shouse,MabelmetanindividualofwhomshehadfrequentlyheardsinceherarrivalinGranville.ThiswasMr.RandolphChester,abachelorfromNewYork,whogenerallypassedpartofthesummerinthevillage.Hewasreputedtoberich,and,thoughhiswealthwasexaggerated,heactuallyhadenoughtosupportasinglemanincomfortandevenluxury.Thoughabachelor,heallowedittobeunderstoodthathewasinthematrimonialmarket,andthusreceivednolittleattentionfrommaneuveringmothers,singleladiesofuncertainage,andbloomingmaidenswhowerewillingtooverlookdisparityinageforthesakeofthewealthandpositionwhichitwasunderstoodMr.Chesterwouldbeabletogivethem.

WhydidMr.RandolphChester(helikedtobecalledbyhisfullname)summerinGranvillewhenhemighthavegonetoBarHarbororNewport?Becauseattheseplacesofresorthewouldhavebeennobody,whileinasmallNewHampshirevillagehewasagreatman.InGranvillehefelt,thoughinthishewasperhapsmistaken,thathecouldmarryanyofthevillagebellestowhomhechosetoholdouthisfinger,andthisconsciousnesswasflattering.

Onhisarrivalatthehotel,wherehehadaspecialroomreservedforhimsummeraftersummer,hewastoldofthenewschoolteacher,ayoung,beautiful,andaccomplishedgirlfromNewYork.

"IfIlikeherlooks,"thoughthetohimself,"Imaymarryher.

Ofcourseshe"spoor,ofshewouldn"tbeteachinghereforthepaltrywagesofacountryschoolmistress,andshe"llbegladenoughtoacceptme."

WhenhewasintroducedtoherMabelsawbeforeheramiddleagedman,carefullydressed,passablygoodlooking,andevidentlyverywellpleasedwithhimself.

Onhispart,hewassomewhatdazzledbytheschoolteacher"sattractions.

"Why,thegirlhasactualstyle,"hesaidtohimself."Egad,shewouldappeartoadvantageinaNewYorkdrawingroom.Iwonderifshe"sheardaboutme."

Hefeltdoubtfulonthispoint,forMabelreceivedhimwithwellbredindifference.HemissedthelittleflutterofgratifiedvanitywhichtheattentionsofsuchaneligiblepartiusuallyproducedintheyoungladiesofGranville.

"I

believeyouarefromNewYork,myowncity,"hesaidcomplacently.

"I

havepassedsometimethere."

"Youmust——ahem!——findaconsiderabledifferencebetweenthecityandthisvillage."

Undoubtedly,Mr.Chester.Ifinditapleasantrelieftobehere."

"Tobesure.SodoI.IenjoyleavingthegaysaloonsofNewYorkforthegreengladesofthecountry."

"I

can"tsay,"returnedMabelmischievously,"thatIknowmuchaboutthesaloonsofNewYork."

"OfcourseImeanthesaloonsoffashion——theshiningcirclesofgaysociety,"saidMr.Chesterhastily,halfsuspectingthatshewaslaughingathim."DoyouknowtheLivingstons,MissFrost?"

"ThereisabakerofthatnameonSixthAvenue,Ibelieve,"saidMabelinnocently."DoYoumeanhisfamily?"

"No,certainlynot,"saidMr.RandolphChester,quiteshockedattheidea."Ihaven"tthehonorofknowinganybakeronSixthAvenue."

NeitherhadMabel,butshehadfullymadeuphermindtoteaseMr.RandolphChester,whoseselfconceitsheinstinctivelydivined.

"Thenyoudon"tliveonSixthAvenue,"shecontinued."IwonderwhereIgotthatimpression!"

"Certainlynot,"saidMr.Chester,scandalized."IhaveapartmentsonMadisonAvenue."

"I

knowwhereitis,"saidMabel.

"Shecan"tmoveinanysortofsociety,andyetwhereonearthdidshegetthatairofdistinction?"RandolphChesterreflected."Doyoulikeschoolteaching?"heaskedinapatronizingtone.

"I

finditpleasant."

"I

wonderyoudonotprocureapositioninthecity,whereyoucouldobtainhigherwages."

"DoyouthinkIcould?"askedMabel.

"Myfriend,Mr.Livingston,isoneoftheSchoolCommissioners,"saidMr.Chester."Icanmentionyournametohim,andyoumightstandachancetoobtainthenextvacancy."

"Thankyou,Mr.Chester,youareexceedinglykind,butIdon"tthinkthatIwishtobecomeacandidateatpresent,"

"Butyouarereallythrowingawayyourtalentsinasmallcountryvillagelikethis."

"I

don"tthinkso,"saidMabel."Ifindmanyofmyscholarsprettyintelligent,anditisarealpleasuretoguidethem."

"Mr.RandolphChester,youmustn"ttrytolureawayMissFrost.Wecan"tspareher,"saidMrs.Pratt.

"Yousee,Mr.Chester,thatIamappreciatedhere,"saidMabel.

"InthecityImightnotbe."

"I

think,"saidthebachelorgallantly,"thatyouwouldbeappreciatedanywhere."

"Thankyou,Mr.Chester,"returnedMabel,receivingthecomplimentwithoutseemingatalloverpoweredbyit;"butyouseeyouspeakfromaveryshortacquaintance."

Mr.

RandolphChesterwaspiqued.Hefeltthathisattentionswerenotestimatedattheirrealvalue.Theschoolmistresscouldnotunderstandwhataneligiblepartihewas.

"Doyouproposetoremainhereafterthesummerisover,MissFrost?"

heasked.

"Myplansarequiteundecided,"saidMabel.

"I

supposesheisn"tsurewhethershecansecuretheschoolforthefallterm,"thoughtthebachelor.

Therewasapianointheroom,recentlypurchasedforCarriePratt,Mrs.Pratt"sdaughter.

"I

wonderwhethersheplays,"thoughtMr.Chester."Willyougiveussomemusic,MissFrost?"heasked.

"Ifyoudesireit.Whatisyourtaste?"

"Doyouknowanyoperaticairs?"

"A

few;andMabelbeganwithanairfromLaSonnambula."SheplayedwithadashandexecutionwhichMr.Chesterrecognized,thoughheonlypretendedtolikeoperabecauseitwasfashionable.

"Bravo!"heexclaimed,clappinghishandsinaffectedecstasy.

"Reallyyouareanexcellentplayer.Isupposeyouhaveattendedtheopera?"

"Occasionally,"saidMabel.

"Andyoulikemusic?ButIneednotask."

"Oh,yes,Ilikemusic.Itisoneofmygreatestpleasures."

"Youwouldmakeaverysuccessfulmusicteacher,Ishouldjudge.Ishouldthinkyouwouldpreferittoteachingacountryschool."

"I

likemusictoowelltoteachit.IamafraidthatIshouldfinditdrudgerytoinitiatebeginners."

"Theremaybesomethinginthat."

"Doyousing,MissFrost?"askedMrs.Pratt.

"Sometimes."

"Willyousingsomething,toobligeme?"

"Certainly,Mrs.Pratt.Whatwouldyoulike?"

"I

likeballadmusic.Iamafraidmyearisnotsufficientlytrainedtolikeoperaticairs,suchasMr.RandolphChesteradmires."

AfterabriefpreludeMabelsanganoldballad.Hervoicewasveryflexible,andwasnotwantinginstrength.Itwasveryeasytoseethatithadbeencarefullycultivated.

Mr.

Chesterwasmoreandmoresurprisedandcharmed."Thatgirlisquiteoutofplacehere,"hesaidtohimself."AnycommonplacegirlwoulddofortheGranvilleschoolmistress.Shedeservesamorebrilliantposition."

HesurveyedMabelcritically,butcouldfindnofaultwithherappearance.Shewasbeautiful,accomplished,andhadadistinguishedair.Evenifshewererelatedtothebaker"sfamilyonSixthAvenue,ashethoughtquiteprobable,shewasfittedtoadornthe"saloonsoffashion,"ashecalledthem.

"I

ratherthinkIwillmarryher,"hethought."Idon"tbelieveIcandobetter.Sheispoor,tobesure,butIhaveenoughforboth,andcanraisehertomyownpositioninsociety."

FortunatelyMabeldidnotknowwhatwaspassingthroughthemindoftheantiquatedbeau,as,sheregardedhim,whoamusedherbyhiscomplacentconsciousnessofhissuperiority.Whenitwasteno"clock,sherosetogo.

"Itwon"tdotobedissipated,Mrs.Pratt,"shesaid."Imustbegoinghome."

"Permitmetoescortyou,MissFrost,"saidMr.Chester,risingwithalacrity.

Shehesitated,butcouldthinkofnoreasonfordeclining,andtheywalkedtogethertoMrs.Kent"s.Thedistancewas"short——tooshort,Mr.Chesterthought,buttherewasnowayoflengtheningit.

"I

hopetohavethepleasureofmeetingyouagainsoon,MissFrost,"saidthebacheloratparting.

Mabelrespondedinsuitableterms,andMr.RandolphChesterwentbacktothehotelinquiteaflutterofexcitement.Thestaidbachelorwasasnearlyinloveassuchawellregulatedpersoncouldbe.

ThenexteveningMabelspentinwritingalettertoMaryBridgman,partofwhichitmaybewelltoquote.

"You,"shesaid,"aretheonlypersoninmyconfidence,theonlyonewhoknowsofmypresentwhereabouts.Youwill,Ifeelsure,begladtoknowthatmyexperimentisprovingtobeasuccess.IbelieveIhaveinspiredinmypupilsarealandearnestinterestinstudy.Itgivesmegenuinepleasuretoseetheirmindsunfoldingandexpanding,daybyday,andtofeelthatIamdoinganimportantpartinguidingtheminthisintellectualgrowth.IcanassureyouthatIgetmoresatisfactionandexhilarationfromthelifeIamleadingnowthanIfoundinmylastsummer"sroundofamusementsatNewport.

"Whenwillitend?Howlongwillthisfitofenthusiasmlast?Ifyouaskthesequestions,Icannottellyou.Lettimedecide.

"Youhaveheard,Isuppose,ofMr.RandolphChester,theelderlybachelorwhofavorsGranvillewithhispresenceeverysummer.Imadehisacquaintanceyesterday,whilecallinguponMrs.Pratt.Hisairofcondescensiononbeingintroducedtotheschoolteacherwasveryamusing.Hewasevidentlydisappointedbymyindifference,andseemedpiquedbyit.WhenIwasaskedtoplayIdeterminedtoproduceanimpressionuponhim,andIdidmybest.Mr.Chesterseemedsurprisedtofindacountryschoolmistresssoaccomplished.Herecommendedmetobecomeamusicteacherandofferedtoassistmetoobtainapositioninthecity,professingtoregardmeworthyofalargerfieldthanGranvilleaffords.Heofferedhisescorthome,andIaccepted.

"TodayMr.Chesterdidmethegreathonorofvisitingmyschool.Heprofessedagreatinterestinthesubjectofeducation,butIlearn,oninquiry,thathehasneverbeforevisitedtheschool.IsuggestedtohimthatMissBassettwouldbegladtoreceiveacall;butheshruggedhisshouldersanddidnotwelcometheproposal.Ifeltamalicioussatisfactioninintroducinghimpubliclytomyscholarsasonewhotookastronginterestinthem,andannouncedthathewouldaddressthem.Myvisitorstarted,blushed,andlookedembarrassed,butretreatwasimpossible.Hemadeahaltingspeech,chieflyconsistingofcongratulationstothescholarsuponhavingsoaccomplishedandcapableateacher.Onthewholeheratherturnedthetablesuponme.

"ItisquiteinthelineofpossibilitythatImayhaveachancetobecomeMrs.RandolphChesterbeforetheseasonisover.IfIaccepthimIshallinsistonyourbeingoneofmybridesmaids."

Chapter8

Granvillewasnotonthegreathighwayoftravel.Itwasoffthetrackoftheordinarytourist.Yetnowandthenapilgriminsearchofaquietnook,wheretherewasnothingtosuggestthegreatBabeloffashion,cametoanchorinitsmodesthostelry,anddreamedawaytranquilhoursundertheshadowofitsleafyelms.Occasionally,inherwalkstoandfromschool,Mabelnoticedafacewhichseemedlessathomeinvillagelanesthanincitystreets,butnonethatshehadseenbefore.

"I

shallfinishmysummerexperimentwithoutrecognition,"shesaidtoherselfinatoneofgratulation.Butshewasmistaken.

Withinafewrodsfromtheschoolhouse,oneafternoon,shemetayoungmanarmedwithafishingrod.Hewasofmediumheight,broadshouldered,woreabrownbeard,andhadapleasant,manlyfacelightedupbyclearandexpressiveeyes.ToMabel"scasualglancehisfeatureslookedstrangelyfamiliar,butshecouldnotrecallthecircumstancesunderwhichtheyhadmet.

Thestrangerlookeddoubtfullyinherfaceforaninstant,thenhiscountenancebrightenedup.

"IfIamnotmistaken,"hesaideagerly,"itisMissMabelFairfax."

Mabel,atthesoundofherrealname,lookedarounduneasily,butluckilynoneofherscholarswaswithinhearing,"MabelFrost,"shesaidhurriedly.

"I

begpardon,"repliedtheyoungman,puzzled;"butcanIbemistaken?"

"No,youareright;butpleaseforgetthenameyouhavecalledmeby.HereIamMabelFrost,andIteachthevillageschool."

Therewasalookofwonder,mingledwithsympathy,intheyoungman"sface.

"I

understand,"hesaidgently."Youhavebeenunfortunate;youhavelostyourfortune,andyouhaveburiedyourselfinthisoutofthewayvillage."

Mabelpreferredthatheshouldaccepttheexplanationthathehimselfhadsuggested.

"Donotpityme,"shesaid."Ihavenocausetocomplain.Iamhappyhere."

"Howwellyoubearyourreverses!"herepliedadmiringly.

Mabelfeltlikeahumbug;butitwasanecessaryconsequenceofthefalsepositioninwhichshehadplacedherself.

"I

donotdeserveyourpraise,"shesaidhonestly."IamsureIoughttoknowyou,"sheadded."Yourfaceisfamiliar,butIcannotrecallwherewehavemet."

"Thatisnotsurprising,"hereturned."Iamapainter,andyoumetmeattheartists"reception.MynameisAllanThorpe."

"AllanThorpe!"repeatedMabelwithaglowofpleasure."Yes,I

remember,youpaintedthatbeautiful"SunsetinBethlehem.""

"Doyourememberit?"askedtheartistingratifiedsurprise.

"ItwasoneofthepicturesIlikedbest.Irememberyoutoo,Mr.

Thorpe."

"I

amverygladtoherit,Miss——"

"Frost,"promptedMabel,holdingupherfinger.

"I

willtrytoremember."

"AreyouspendingthesummerinGranville,Mr.Thorpe?"

"Yes,"repliedAllanunhesitatingly.Hehadjustmadeuphismind.

"Areyouengageduponanynewwork?"

"Notyet.Ihavebeenpaintingbusilyduringthespring,andamidlingforatime.YouseehowprofitablyIhavebeenemployedtoday,"andhepointedtohisfishingrod."Ihopetogetatsomethingbyandby.MayIaskwhereyouareboarding?"

"AtMrs.Kent"s."

"I

congratulateyou,forIknowher.Iamatthehotelandamsometimessolitary.

MayIventuretocalluponyou?"

"Ifyoucalluponyourfriend,Mrs.Kent,youwillprobablyseeme,"

saidMabel,smiling.

"ThenIshallcertainlycalluponMrs.Kent,"saidtheyoungman,liftinghishatrespectfully.

"Pleasebearinmindmychangeofname,Mr.Thorpe."

"Youshallbeobeyed."

"Howmuchsheisimprovedbyadversity,"thoughttheyoungman,ashesaunteredtowardsthehotel."Icanhardlyrealizethechange.Thesocietybellehasbecomeastaid——no,notstaid,buthardworkingcountryschoolmistress,andtakes"thechangegaylyandcheerfully.IthoughtherbeautifulwhenIsawherinNewYork.Nowsheischarming."

WhatwereMabel"sreflections?

"Heiscertainlyveryhandsomeandverymanly,"shesaidtoherself.

"Hehasgenius,too.Irememberthatpaintingofhis.Hethinksmepoor,andIfeltlikeahumbugwhenhewasadmiringmeformyresignationtocircumstances.Ifitwereashethinks,IthinkImightfindafriendinhim."

"I

justmetanoldacquaintance,Mrs.Kent,"shesaidonenteringthehouse.

"Ishestayinghere?"askedthewidow.

"Yes,foratime.Hetellsmeheknowsyou."

"Whocanitbe?"askedMrs.Kentwithinterest.

"A

youngartist——AllanThorpe,"repliedMabel.

"Heisafineyoungman,"saidMrs.Kentwarmly.

"Hisappearanceisinhisfavor."

"Youknow,Isuppose,thatheisMrs.Wilson"snephew?"

"No,"saidMabelwithsurprise.

"Hismother,whodiedlastyear,wasMrs.Wilson"ssister.Hewasagoodsontoher.AyearbeforeherdeathawealthyfriendofferedtodefrayhisexpensesfortwelvemonthsinItaly,butherefusedforhersake,thoughithasalwaysbeenhisdearestwishtogo."

"Nowonderyoupraisehim.Hedeservesit,"saidMabelwarmly.Chapter9

Threemonthsbefore,anewministerhadbeenappointedtotakechargeoftheMethodistSocietyinGranville.TheRev.AdoniramFry,inspiteofanunprepossessingname,wasamanofliberalmindandgenialtemper,whocouldneitheroriginatenorkeepupaquarrel.Inconsequencetherelationsbetweenthetwoparishesbecamemuchmorefriendly.Mr.FrytooktheinitiativeincallinguponMr.Wilson.

"BrotherWilson,"hesaidcordially,"wearebothlaborersintheLord"svineyard.Isthereanyreasonwhyweshouldstandapart?"

"Nonewhatever,BrotherFry,saidtheotherclergyman,hisfacelightingupwithpleasure."Letusbefriends."

"Agreed.Ifwesettheexamplewecandrawourpeopletogether.Howisitthattheyhavebeenestrangedinyearspast?"

"I

canhardlytellyou.Probablytherehasbeenfaultonbothsides."

Thetwopastorshadapleasantchat,andwalkedtogetherdownthevillagestreet,attractingconsiderableattention.Somewerepleased,othersseemedundecidedhowtoregardthenewalliance,whileDeaconUriahPeabodyopenlydisapproved.

"I

don"tbelieveincountenancin"error,"saidhe,shakinghishead."Weshouldbesternanduncompromisin"inupholdingtheright."

"Whyshouldn"tourministerbefriendlywiththeMethodistparson,deacon?"questionedSquireHadley,whowaslessbigotedthanthedeacon.

"I"vemetMr.Fry,andIthinkhimawholesouledman."

"Hemayhaveawholesoul,"retortedthedeacon,withgrimhumor;

"butit"saquestionwhetherhe"llsaveitifheholdstohisMethodistdoctrines."

"Don"ttheMethodistsandCongregationalistsbelieveverymuchalike?"askedtheSquire.

"Howcanyouasksuchaquestion,Squire?"askedthedeacon,scandalized.

"Buthowdotheydiffer?Iwishyou"dtellmethat."

"TheMethodistshavebishops."

"Thatisn"tamatterofdoctrine."

"Yes,itis;theysayit"saccordin"toScripturetohavebishops."

"Isthatallthedifference?"

"It"senough."

"Enoughtopreventtheirbeingsaved?"

"It"sanerror,andallerrorisdangerous."

"ThenyoudisapproveoffriendshipbetweenourpeopleandtheMethodists?

"Yes,"saidthedeaconemphatically.

"Wouldn"tyousellacowtoaMethodistifyoucouldgetagoodprofit?"

"That"sdifferent,"saidDeaconPeabody,whowasfondofatrade.

"Tradin"isonethingandspiritualintercourseisanother."

"I

can"tagreewithyou,deacon.IlikewhatI"veseenofMr.Fry,andIhopehe"lldrawustogetherinfriendlyfeelingwithoutregardtoourattendanceatdifferentchurches."

WhenFastDaycameMr.WilsonproposedthatthereshouldbeaunionserviceintheMethodistchurch,Mr.Frytopreachthesermon.

"Inthetwosocieties,"heurged,therewillnotbeenoughpeopledesirousofattendingchurchtomakemorethanafairsizedcongregation.

Nothingsectarianneedbepreached.Therearedoctrinesenoughinwhichwejointlybelievetoaffordthepreacherallthescopeheneeds."

Mr.Frycordiallyacceptedthesuggestion,andtheunionservicewasheld;butDeaconUriahPeabodywasconspicuousbyhisabsence.

"I

don"tliketolosemygospelprivileges,"hesaid;"butIcan"tconsortwithMethodistsorenteraMethodistchurch.It"sagin"myprinciples."

OldMrs.Slocumsympathizedwiththedeacon;butcuriositygotthebetterofprinciple,andsheattendedtheservice,listeningwithkeenearedandvigilantattentionforsomethingwithwhichshecoulddisagree.Inthisshewasdisappointed;therewasnothingtostartleorshockthemostexactingCongregationalist.

"Whatdidyouthinkofthesermon?"askedSquireHadley,ashefellinwiththeoldladyonthewayhome.

"Itsoundedwellenough,"shereplied,shakingherheadbutappearancesaredeceitful."

"WouldyouhavebeensatisfiedifyouhadheardthesamesermonfromMr.

Wilson?"

"I

wouldhaveknownitwasallrightthen,"saidMrs.Slocum."Youcan"tnevertellabouttheseMethodists."

ButDeaconPeabodyandMrs.Slocumwereexceptions.Mostofthepeopleweresatisfied,andtheunionserviceledtoamoresocialandharmoniousfeeling.

ForthefirsttimeinthreeyearsMrs.JohnKeith,Congregationalist,tookteaatthehouseofMrs.HenryKeith,Methodist.Thetwofamilies,thoughthehusbandswerebrothers,hadbeenkeptapartbysectariandifferences,eachbeingprominentinhischurch.Thetwoministersrejoicedinthemorecordialfeelingwhichhadgrownoutoftheirownpleasantpersonalrelations,andtheyfrequentlycalleduponeachother.

OneresultoftherestoredharmonybetweenthetworeligioussocietieswasaunionpicnicoftheSundayschoolsconnectedwitheach.Itbecameageneralaffair,anditwasunderstoodthatnotonlythechildren,buttheolderpeople,wouldparticipateinit.TheplaceselectedwasagroveonthesummitofalittlehillslopingdowntoThurber"sPond,asheetofwatersometimesdesignatedasalake,thoughscarcelyamileincircumference.

Fromthefirst,Mr.RandolphChesterintendedtoinviteMabeltoaccompanyhim.Theattentionwouldlookpointed,headmittedtohimself;buthewasquitepreparedforthat.SofarashisheartwascapableofbeingtouchedMabelhadtouchedit.Hewasnotthemantoentertainagrandpassion,andneverhadbeen;buthisadmirationofthenewschoolteacherwassuchthatarefusalwouldhaveentaileduponhimseriousdisappointment.Ofrivalry——thatis,ofseriousrivalry——Mr.Chesterhadnoapprehension.OneafternoonheencounteredAllanThorpewalkingwithMabel,andhewasnotquitepleased,forhehadmentallymonopolizedher.ButhewouldhavelaughedattheideaofMabel"spreferringMr.Thorpe.Hewashandsome,andyoungerbytwentyfiveyears;buthewas,touseMr.Chester"sownterm,"abeggarlyartist."

IfsheshouldmarryThorpeshewouldhavetoliveonromanceandmoonshine.Artistsraveaboutthetrueandthebeautiful,buttheydonotpaycash,"Randolphsaidtohimself,ratherdisdainfully.

TwodaysbeforethepicnicMr.ChestercalledatMrs.Kent"sandinquired,inatoneofsomeimportance,forMissFrost.Mabelmadeherappearanceintheparlorwithoutunnecessarydelay.

"I

hopeIseeyouwell,MissFrost,"saidMr.Chester,withasmilethatwasmeanttobecaptivating.

"Thankyou,Mr.Chester;Ihaveseldombeenbetter."

"I

hopeyouareenjoyingyoursummerinGranville."

"IndeedIam,"answeredMabelheartily.

"Wherewereyoulastsummer,MissFrost?"

Mabelhesitated.ShedidnotliketosaythatshespentthegreaterpartoftheseasonatNewport,sincethiswouldprobablyleadtofurtherquestionsonthesubject,andpossiblyexposehersecret.

"I

wasinthecitypartofthetime,"sheansweredevasively.