第7章

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.