A Letter of Credit

eir little rooms comfortable without burning more coal than Mrs. Carpenter thought she could afford. Rotha ran along the streets to the corner shop where she bought tea and sug

hink it would be better to do witho

along without tea," Mrs. C

g along without alm

yet," answered th

is what you call very well- Mo

I could not li

y given you a

are only jus

s. But there is eight to be paid for rent, I know, and that leaves only sixteen. And he can afford to pay the whole twent

and maketh rich,'"-Mr

doe

wishes to teach his ch

y do it if th

at danger the

ould,

ut I have alway

you haven't had a good dinner since- M

eagre fare, when the knock came and Mr. Digby shewed himself. He explained that he had been out of town

friend he

that the girl was thin, and pale; and that just at an age when she

r question, Rotha,

im any questions," the

Carpenter

nd I was not able to discuss the point sati

k, however, and

asking questions,"

ou think so?"

habit-provided of course that

questions," Rotha said

sk me questions, if you once got int

s," said Rotha. "There must b

must be a

somethi

I ask, what

it like that, one must know that the person could answer the

econd qualification; about the first you m

ha felt that she had gone so near the edge of pol

'gentleman'; and I suppose she was too tired to

id me h

is it then

t is the counter

at is grown up, a 'lady

ery grown up man

beyond her reach; at the same time her look shewed capacity enough both to understand and to feel. Rotha was now nearly fourteen, with mental powers just opening and personal gifts just beginning to dawn. The child's complexion told of poor feeding and want of air and exercise; it was sallow, and her features wer

erson who in all manner of little things keeps the golden r

ings? Not in

and not be a gentleman in mann

it is

y mu

ady the

cour

tle things?" said

ntidy. Then, in all her moving, speaking, and acting, she will be gentle, quiet, and polite. And in her behaviour to others, she will give everybody the respect that is due, and never put herself forward.

ess, never stopping her needle. "Better than

d consider

question?" said

tha. "Mustn't one know a

at, for i

ct that is due; it is not th

certa

an one

ore one can hold the balance scales to weigh out to ea

my child an education. I do a little at home; it is better than nothing; but

now, Rotha?" s

d the girl, an eloquent flush coming

, then?" said the

ot say it wa

le history," Mrs.

ntance with Alexande

at? aske

calle

know abo

deserved t

suppose

at

uch a cle

ed, keeping a perfectly grave face with some dif

e, rose again in her cheeks, and her eye waked up with

Which do

be friends with each other; so that trade could be carried on, and knowledge and a

f Alexander. After all, wha

ome of them did; and the Greek language was spread through Asia, and the Jews encouraged to settle

gby, "your manner of teaching

said the mother, "but we had

otha, "except Rollin'

ch's L

d, is worth a hundred un

now much of moder

except what mot

bout g

s both pretty well. But I found, with my work, I could not teach her arith

ntent; the colour in her cheeks brightened; she was grappling, it was plain, with the difficulties suggested to he

s in Latin?" Mr. Digby a

's mo

exclaimed, and her che

business will bring me frequently into this pa

ch trouble-unless you

ng-when I find someb

ry glad-Poor Rotha, I have been un

admirably, from the sli

e can she gi

She is much more idle

would eat them at all times of day, whenever you feel like it. I knew a very slender lady once,

e took his departure. Rotha, who had been

not want him

ild? I think he

ht out of kindness; and I don'

?" for Rotha was f

arn or not. And if I shouldn't say something just right, and he sh

if you were

hy did you sa

have had

earn Latin anyhow. What

f him,-O mot

into impatient a

igby?" said her m

can't tell!-he

at all. I am asham

he same; and he thinks everything must be as he

ntleman, that's all. Do you dis

lady"-sob

that to do

wish I coul

Mr. Digby t

hat it was; he didn't tell m

roles, at any rate, Roth

ot I can't 'honour all men'; I don't know how; and I can't prefer others b

n life-or in herself -of which the girl had hitherto no experience and no knowledge? It was quite just Mrs. Carpenter, herself refined and essentially lady-like, knew very well that her little girl was not growing up to be a lady; she had laid that off, along

passage way to the front door, another doo

"You're a friend of those

cert

ink of her?" she said

py woman, to have such

ua-maker, with her pleasant, arch smile. "I mea

id not comm

r cough's bad, and it's growin' worse; and she aint fit to

re of his children

ch for her; and she won't let me, neither; and I am thinkin' about it day and night. She aint fit to work, this minute. And there's the child; a

asked the g

ive? That child's grown thin-she's like a piece o'

ould not he

can. What's to become of them if she g

t touching what I have thought of m

id the mantua-maker with a nod o

ly a Latin grammar, but a paper of grapes for Mrs. Carpenter. At the grammar Rotha's soul rebelled; but what displeasure could stand against those beautiful grapes and the sight of her mother eating them? They were not very good, Mr. Dig

e said observing that she hesitat

a ta

cstasy,-"I should think these

then. And Rotha, mollified, when she had finished her grapes, submitted patiently to recei

bout going,-"have you any more ro

is floor-" said Mrs.

person, an elderly woman, who I think would be comfortable here, if y

ll'?" said Mrs. Ca

a room without a fire, she would pay four doll

help to me," said Mrs.

great while. I think I can promise th

s her own

cour

r mind, Mrs. Carpenter gave an unqualified assent

, "what room are you

ut one; our

re shall

er

re we do e

ent, Rotha. And I should like a little more w

got down to two rooms, and

child. I a

ank

e means to p

our two rooms," said Rotha; thinking, like a great man

you like

don't like it at all. And it is just ridicu

d known often to work comfortingly. She procured it and prepared it herself, and then administered it, and begged permission to cook Mrs. Carpenter's dinner; and shook up the pillow at her back, and set the rocking chair at an inclined angle which gave support and relief. When she had done all she could, she went away; but she came in again as soon as there was fresh occasion

would bring a bit of particularly nice salmon he had found; or fresh eggs that he got from an old woman down town near one of the ferries, whom he said he could trust. Or he brought some new tea for Mrs. Carpenter to try; sometimes a sweetbread, or a fresh lobster, from the market. Then it was remarkable how often Mr. Digby was tempted by the sight of game; and came with prairie chickens, quails, partridges and ducks, to tempt, as he said, Mrs. Carpenter's appetite. And at last he brought her wine. There had grown up between the two, by this time, a relation of great kin

authority he exercised; for without making the fact in any way obtrusive, a fact it was, tha

t is true; she did what was required of her; it soon amused Mrs. Carpenter to see with what punctilious care she did it; for in the abstract Rotha was not fond of application. She was one of those who love to walk in at the doors of knowledge, but do not at all enjoy forgin

od of my knowing Latin?" s

arming, do you not, Rotha?

a little bi

erhaps what is the use o

ground are you ploughin

r mind; to get it

too vexed to speak. All this trouble j

n is good for?" s

nd in working order, but to develope the good qualities of it; as for instance,

attention when I have

ive you something else to do w

as careful to observe the forms of politeness with

drawing out the word

gb

w f

gave her a half hour of sharp work; so sharp as to bar other thoughts for the time. Rotha shewed in this half hour uumistakeable capacity for the science of n

tever Mr. Digby chooses

ou liked lea

arning well enough; I don't like

Digby is ver

indness. I don't know

goodness," said the moth

everything to learn that

be kinder or more patient

y his patie

in her such a practical awe of him. Mrs. Carpenter was even half amused to observe how Rotha unconsciously in his presence was adopting certain points of his manner; she was quiet; she moved with moderate steps; she spoke in low tones; she did not fly out in impatient or angular words or gestures, as was her way often enough at other times. Yet her mother knew, and wondered why, Rotha rebelled in secret against the whole thing. For herself, she was growing into a love for Mr. Digby which was almost like that of a mother for a son; as indeed his manner towards her was much like that of a son towards his mother. It was not

g all day," Mrs. Cord told their friend in private; "whenever the wind blew and the gas came into the room." Mr. Digby took his measures. The little cooking stove was removed; a little disused grate behind it was opened; and presently a gentle fire of Liverpool coal was burning there. The atmosphere of the room

you are sitting in!" he said with

ed Mrs. Carpenter. "I want nothing,

rest when yo

Or I lie dow

night. I do not think they a

ave?" said Mrs. Carpe

ll

reeable, it finds the occasion in a certain description of March weather; and this was such an occasion. It was very cold; the fire in the grate was well made up and burning beautifully and the room was pleasant enough; but outside there were gusts that were almost little whirlwinds coursing up and down every street, carrying

ose they can't help it. A good many people are going about, anyhow. Some of them are so poorly dressed, mother! there was a woman went by just now, carryi

re!" said Mr

saw people like th

N

ey here, an

t ask Mr

ted. I don't know what they are out for; they have nothing to do; they

me is often worse

it blows to-day. I sho

k must want a great ma

reat many good

they doi

mostly," Mrs. Cord answered,

ich enough to look out

Two a

e more sides to the problem than the simp

for somebody wants it. I should hate to drive a coal cart! Mo

rble, I

at all; it is in big lumps some of it, like what came for the grate,

eipt for her mother to sign. Mrs. Carpenter signe

t-load, mother," s

man in New York," said M

think he

ancy

much on us, has he?" as

me. More than our

hare o

kindn

the other

people he knows, tha

ose. But what I am thinking of is, if he gives other people as good a share of his ti

ay, Rotha. It is a hotel

perience of the "North River." "Now here comes another cart the carts have to go in all sorts of times;

am not interested to know what the ca

ping, mother. It

t if it is. It is n

how do you know, mother? It has stopped

had disappeared within doors, presently followed her. In the little bit of a hall below stood a large something which completely

he former, when they had

Cord. "I guessed this was c

it?" as

see the dust on it! There's a half bushel or less. Here-wait till I ge

fe; "soft all over," as Rotha expressed it; "back and sides and all soft as a pillow, and yet harder than a pillow; like as if it were on springs everywhere;" which

er, which came from her lips. Rotha stood and looked at her. Mrs. Carpenter was resting, in a very abandonment of rest; but in the abandonment of the moment shewing, as she did not use to shew it, the great enervation and pr

d?" she as

word was a

s you so w

weaker t

always look

gested. "A bed aint like one o' them chairs, for supportin' one every

shing that air of helpless lassitude. She was not sewing either; and had not been sewing, Rotha remembered, exc

e, and feel nicely. She's been a wantin' this, or something o' this sort; but there aint nothing better than one o' them spring chairs, for

man. "I do not know what we should do without you. You s

couldn't take care of you just as we

so much experience, you

er?" the girl s

ll. Mrs. Carpenter folded her arms close about her child; and so they sat for a good while. Mother and daughter, each had her own thoughts; but those of the one were dim and confused as ever thoughts could be. The other's w

helming, intolerable, were it not that the mother's faith was fixed where faith is never disappointed. Even so, she was human; and the question, what would be the fate of her little da

looks which from an habitually self-contained spirit come with so much power on any one capable of understanding them. The young man's eyes fell from her to Rotha; the two faces were very near each other; and for the first time Rotha's defiance gave place to a little bit of liking. She had not s

he remarked in his usual calm way. "I hop

ill my work is don

. Will you prove the fact

lingly left

at sort of a c

ring

very go

t meets your

too. Do you see h

oung man, rather of Mrs. Car

," she answered w

the everlasting

citations. He kept her very busy at them for some time; Latin and arithmetic and grammar came under review; and then he proceeded to put