itful
in well-doing. While from the first not insensible to your
charms of person, I have allowed my inclination to grow because
I detected in you the superior graces of the mind and a strength
of character which could not be other than sustaining to the man
fortunate enough to possess you for a helpmeet. In short, my
dear Miss Marvin, you would gratify me in the highest degree by
consenting to be Mrs. R. I am, as you are probably aware,
well-to-do. The circumstances of my being a widower will not,
I hope, weigh seriously against this proposal in the mind of one
who, while retaining the personal attractions above mentioned,
may be reasonably supposed to have set aside the romantic
illusions of girlhood. Awaiting your reply, which I trust may
be favourable, I remain, yours very truly,"
"S. Rosewarne."

"P.S.--Your exceptional gifts in the handling of children assure
me that my son Calvin would receive from you a care no less than
motherly. He would meet it, I feel equally sure, with a
responsive affection."

The tone of this letter made Hester tingle as if some of its phrases had
been thongs to scourge her.

Yet it must be answered.

That this odious man should have dared--and yet for weeks she had seen it
coming. Incredible as she found it that a man from whom every nerve of
her body recoiled with loathing should complacently ignore the signs,
should complacently persevere in assuming himself to be agreeable and in
pressing that assumption, she had to admit that the offer did not take her
wholly by surprise. What bruised her was the insufferable obtuseness of
the wording. How was it possible for a human being to sit down in good
faith and pen such sentences without guessing that they hurt or insulted?

Nevertheless she blessed the impulse which had prompted him to write; for
in writing he could be answered. All day she had gone in dread of meeting
him face to face.

Once or twice, while she pondered her answer, she had glanced up at the
child, as if _he_ could explain his father. What fatal unhappy gift had
they both, by which in all that they said or did they earned aversion?

When the child broke down, she arose with a pang of self-reproach, crossed
to his chair, and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Listen to me, Calvin," she said. "You have told me one thing you want:
you want