bear......Paul's chickens." "......like your......Uncle Philip!" "......wouldn't slap......mosquito." (No; I'd rather blow him from the mouth of a cannon. H. C.) [Pg 177] [Pg 177] "Poor Philip......once stepped......toad......quite ill." "Henry......so thoughtful......do anything......make me happy." "Yes......kindest husband......so much sense......Philip different......wouldn't listen......about farm." "Mr. Fairman......devoted......be happy......do anything." "Oh, Marion!......think I'm......old goose." I know when a conversation becomes confidential, and I quietly retreated without hearing anything further except some indistinct murmuring and happy sobs. From the day my bank account was increased by the sum of five thousand dollars I made up my mind to spend it all, if necessary, in the purchase of Waydean. I exulted in the anticipation of Marion's delight and amazement on finding that I had preferred to do this in place of frittering it away in luxuries that we could do without, or investing it in stocks. I almost wished her birthday was at hand so that I could[Pg 178] celebrate the day by making her a present of the place; then the idea of giving it to her on Aunt Sophy's wedding-day entered my mind, and this seemed such a capital plan that I decided to carry it out. Few men, I meditated, would have thought of such a graceful acknowledgment of Aunt Sophy's kindness, and I felt that Marion would be doubly pleased that I should think of adding to the joy of the eventful day. I could not help wondering what my wife intended doing with her money, but she didn't say anything to enlighten me, and I took good care not to allude to it, for fear she should question me in return. She made frequent trips to the city, carrying her little bank-book with an air of importance, but I could see nothing in the results of her shopping to indicate
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