morning she asked him, in a very
humble way, for the money, which she said she would not have done,
but that if the gown was not bought directly it would not be ready
in time for the feast. John's conscience had troubled him a little
for what he had done--for when he was not drunk he was not
ill-natured--and he stammered out a broken excuse, but owned he had
lost the money, and had not a farthing left. The moment Hester saw
him mild and kind her heart was softened, and she begged him not to
vex, adding, that she would be contented never to have a new gown as
long as she lived, if she could have the comfort of always seeing
him come home sober as he was last night. For Hester did not know
that he had refrained from getting drunk, only that he might gamble
with a better chance of success, and that when a gamester keeps
himself sober, it is not that he may practice a virtue, but that he
may commit a worse crime.

"I am indeed sorry for what I have done," said he; "you can not go
to the feast, and what will Madam Jones say?" "Yes, but I can," said
Hester; "for God looks not at the gown, but at the heart, and I am
sure he sees mine full of gratitude at hearing you talk so kindly;
and if I thought my dear father would change his present evil
courses, I should be the happiest girl at the feast to-morrow." John
walked away mournfully, and said to himself, "Surely there must be
something in religion, since it can thus change the heart. Hester
was once a pert girl, and now she is as mild as a lamb. She was once
an indolent girl, and now she is up with the lark. She was a vain
girl, and would do any thing for a new ribbon; and now she is
contented to go in rags to a feast at which every one else is to
have a new gown. She deprived herself of the gown to give me the
money; and yet this very girl, so dutiful in some respects, would
submit to be turned out of doors rather than read a loose book at my
command, or break the Sabbath. I do not understand this; there must
be some mystery in it." All this he said as he was going to work. In
the evening he did not go to the Bell; whether it was owing to his
new thoughts, or to his not having a penny in his pocket, I will not
take upon me positively to say; but I believe it was a little of one
and a little of the other.

As the pattern of the intended gown had long been settled in the
family, and as Hester had the money by her, it was looked on as good
as bought, so that she was trusted t