"I am beginning to be successful,"he said."I can,even now,support you in a modest way,and with health I feel assured of a larger --I hope a much larger --income in time.I can relieve you from teaching at once."Mabel smiled.
"But suppose I do not consider it a burden.Suppose I like it.""Then you can teach me."
"It might become monotonous to have only one pupil.""I hope not,"said Allan earnestly.
When he pressed her to name an early day for their marriage,Mabel said:"Before we go any further,I have a confession to make.I hope it won't be disagreeable to you."He silently inclined his head to listen.
"Who told you I had lost my property?"she asked.
"No one.I inferred it from finding you here,teaching a village school for seven dollars a week,"replied Allan.
"What!Have you inquired my income so exactly?I fear you are mercenary.""I can remember the time --not so long since,either --when I earned less than that by my art.But,Mabel,what do you mean by your questions?Of course you have lost your property.""Then my banker has failed to inform me of it.No,Allan,I am no poorer than I ever was.""Why,then,did you become a teacher?"asked Allan Thorpe,bewildered.
"Because I wished to be of some service to my kind;because I was tired of the hollow frivolity of the fashionable world.I don't regret my experiment.Inever expected to be so richly rewarded.""And you,as rich as ever,bestow your hand on a poor artist?"he exclaimed almost incredulously.
"Unless the poor artist withdraws his offer,"she answered with a smile.
Of the conversation that followed it is needful only to report that it was mutually decided that Mabel's secret was to be kept for the present.She was still to be the poor school teacher in the eyes of Granville.The marriage was to take place in October,Mabel being reconciled to the briefness of the engagement by the representation that October would be a favorable month for a voyage to Europe.They had already decided to spend two years in Italy.Mabel had always longed to see Italy,and it would no doubt be full of delightful opportunities of improvement in his art for Allan Thorpe.
Mabel's engagement made a second sensation,Mr.Chester's elopement being the first.
Many were the congratulations offered,though these were mingled with regret that so good a teacher should be lost to the village.Mr.Chester heard the news in gloomy silence.His wife remarked patronizingly that it was a very suitable match,for "both are as poor as poverty,goodness knows!"The wedding took place quietly in October,and in Granville.No one as yet knew that Mabel was other than she seemed,though Mr.Wilson had been informed of her real name.When,however,a check for five hundred dollars was handed to him as his fee for celebrating the marriage,he faltered in amazement,as he inquired,"What does this mean,Allan?""It means,my dear uncle,that Mabel is not only rich in every virtue and every accomplishment,but she is also burdened with a large portion of this world's goods.This is my first opportunity for saying what she authorized me to say,that we will gladly defray Ralph's expenses through college whenever you are ready to send him.""God is indeed good to me and mine!"said the minister,his face beaming with happiness."My dear child"--this was to Mabel --"may you always be as happy as you have made us.""You have made us all happy,dear Mabel,"said her husband."It was indeed a blessed day when you came to Granville to teach."