"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?"