下载辰思小说免费APP
"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?"
