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I'd no more think of trying to teach that great big thing any thing than any thing!" "But you can make him go to Abbie's party, if you are to be there yourself, and then, if you don't want to instruct him, you can give him to some one who isn't afraid of him, and have Bill Reynolds all to yourself."
"But it is one of Abbie's recent whims that she can make him more comfortable at home, so they rehearse the interesting scene of breakfast by gas-light every morning." Abbie's clear laugh rang out merrily at this. "My dear mother, don't, I beg of you, insult the sun in that manner! Ester, fancy gas-light at seven o'clock on an August morning!"
Fancy a dozen rough boys banging and shouting through my house, eating cake enough to make them sick for a month, to say nothing of the quantity which they will stamp into my carpets, and all because they chance to belong to Abbie's mission class!" Ralph and Ester had joined the group in the meantime, and the former here interposed. "That last argument isn't valid, mother.
But he is a very prudent man, and doesn't seem to think so at all." "Doesn't it annoy you to have her speak in that manner about him?" The ever-ready color flushed into Abbie's cheeks again, and, after a moment's hesitation, she answered gently: "I think it would, Ester, if she were not my own mother, you know." Another rebuke. Ester felt vexed anyway.
"Those are not very expensive, I am sure, at least not for you; and you certainly want some very nice ones. I'm sure if I had one-third of your spending money I shouldn't need to hesitate." Abbie's voice was very low and sweet, and reached only her cousin's ear.
There are occasions, of course, when I must be detained; but under ordinary circumstances it must be more than a concert that detains me." "I don't believe in making religion such a very solemn matter as that all amounts to; it has a tendency to drive people away from it." The look on Abbie's face, in answer to this testily spoken sentence, was a mixture of bewilderment and pain.
The professor went down to his breakfast, and, having disposed of it with good appetite, and smoked his morning-pipe with quiet satisfaction, Michael brought Dolly and the wagon round to the front door, the old gentleman clambered in, and off they rattled to Abbie's boarding-house.
It was about the first of December that rumors began to be circulated in the village of an approaching ball at Abbie's. It was to be the grandest the most complete in all its appointments of any that ever had been given there. It was looked upon, in advance, as the great event of the year.
Ried had the benefit of a full, steady look from Abbie's great solemn eyes now, as she said: "Mother, I want God's help. No other will do me any good." "Well," answered Mrs. Ried, after just a moment of rather awe-struck silence, "can't you find that help any where but in that plain, common little meeting-house? I thought people with your peculiar views believed that God was every-where."
She raised her head, shivering with pain and apprehension, and looked a volume of petition and remonstrance; but ere she spoke Abbie's hand rested lovingly on her arm, and her low sweet voice continued the pleading: "You do not quite understand my mood, Ester. I am not unlike others; I have wept bitter tears this past night; I have groaned in agony of spirit; I have moaned in the very dust.
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