e turned to Agatha with that air of frank goodness by which
Marmaduke Dugdale could coax everybody round to his own ends.

"Ay, that we will, though I suppose I am not so rich as Miss Valery.
Still, we have enough to help poor people--have we not?"

She appealed gaily to Mr. Harper, but he replied nothing. She persisted:

"We need not give much, since Mr. Trenchard and Miss Valery are both on
the list before us. We'll give--let me see--fifty pounds. Ah, now,
just go up-stairs and fetch me down fifty pounds!" said she, hanging
caressingly on her husband's arm.

He looked down on her, and looked away. He had become very grave. "We
will talk of this some other time, dear."

"But another time will not do. I want it now. I fear," she whispered,
blushing--"I fear, before I married, I was very thoughtless and selfish.
I would like to cure myself, and spend my money usefully, as Anne Valery
does. Charity is such a luxury."

"Too dear a luxury for every one," said Nathanael sighing.

She looked up, scarcely believing him to be in earnest. Her
open-hearted, open-handed nature was much hurt. She said, with a bitter
meaning:

"I did not know I had such a very prudent husband."

He took no notice, but addressed himself to Mr. Dugdale. "Nay, Duke, you
and your benevolences are too hard upon us young married people. We must
tighten our purse-strings against you this time."

Agatha's cheek flamed. "But if _I_ wish it"--

"Dear, it cannot be, we cannot afford it."

Agatha moved angrily from his side, and soon after, though not so soon
as to attract notice to him or herself, she quitted the room. Scarcely
had she reached her own when she heard a step behind her.

"Are you angry with me, my wife, and for such a little thing?"

Nathanael stood there, holding both her hands, and looking down upon her
with a face so kind, so regretful, so grave, that she felt ashamed of
the quick storm which had ruffled her own spirit The cause of this did
seem now a very "little thing." She hung her head, child-like, and made
no answer.

"Why is it," said Mr. Harper, putting his arm round her--"why is it that
we are always having these 'little things' rising up to trouble us?
Why cannot we bear with one another, and take the chance-happiness that
falls to our lot? It is not much, I fear"--

She looked uneasy.

"Nay, perhaps that is chiefly my fault. I often wish Heaven had given
you a better husband, Agatha."

And his countenance was s