ar."

"H-m-m," murmured George, "and he has two hundred now; an increase of
five hundred per cent. I'm afraid it will turn the old man's head.
However, I wouldn't exactly promise anything for a few days yet."

"Many a man in his station in life is happy upon a thousand."

"A thousand! Why, my dear, there is not a man of his class in town that
makes six hundred."

"George?"

"Well?"

"We must keep horses, and there is no room to build a stable on this
place."

"No."

"Could we live here and keep the horses in the General's stables across
the way, even if the place were turned into a park?"

"That is worth thinking of."

"And George?"

"Well, dear?"

"It's a horrid thing to confess, but do you know, George, I've felt
myself getting meaner and meaner, and stingier and stingier ever since
you brought the good news."

George tried to smile, but the effort was unsuccessful; he looked
half-vexed and half-ashamed.

"Oh, I wouldn't put it just that way," he said. "The news is so exciting
that we hardly know at once how to adjust ourselves to it. We are simply
prudent. It would be folly to plunge ahead without any caution at all.
How much did you say the debt of the Presbyterian Church is?"

"Six thousand, I think."

"A good deal for a little church like that to owe."

"Yes, but--"

"You didn't promise anything, Mary Jane, did you, to Mrs. Borrow?"

"No, for I had nothing to promise, but I did tell her on Sunday that I
would help them liberally if I could."

"They will base large expectations on that, sure. I wish you hadn't said
it just that way. Of course, we are bound to help them, but I should
like to have a perfectly free hand in doing it."

There was silence for a moment, while both looked through the window at
the General's place over the way.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" asked Mrs. Grimes.

"Lovely. That little annex on the side would make a snug den for me; and
imagine the prospect from that south bedroom window! You would enjoy
every look at it."

"George?"

"What?"

"George, dear, tell me frankly, do you really feel in your heart as
generous as you did yesterday?"

"Now, my dear, why press that matter? Call it meaner or narrower or what
you will; maybe I am a little more so than I was; but there is nothing
to be ashamed of. It is the conservative instinct asserting itself; the
very same faculty in man that holds society together. I will be liberal
enough when the time comes, never fear