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.