Put Yourself in His Place [45]
the Liberal the workman's advocate."
"Yes, papa," said Grace; "but how plainly he shows-- But Mr. Little is a stranger, and even this terrible lesson has not-- So do pray advise him."
"I shall be very happy; but, when you are my age, you will know it is of little use intruding advice upon people."
"Oh, Mr. Little will treat it with proper respect, coming from one so much older than himself, and better acquainted with this wretched town. Will you not, Mr. Little?" said she, with so cunning a sweetness that the young fellow was entrapped, and assented, before he knew what he was about; then colored high at finding himself committed.
Mr. Carden reflected a moment. He then said, "I can't take upon myself to tell any man to give up his livelihood. But one piece of advice I can conscientiously give Mr. Little."
"Yes, papa."
"And that is--TO INSURE HIS LIFE."
"Oh, papa!" cried Grace.
As for Henry he was rather amused, and his lip curled satirically. But the next moment he happened to catch sight of Jael Dence's face; her gray eyes were expanded with a look of uneasiness; and, directly she caught his eye she fixed it, and made him a quick movement of the head, directing him to assent.
There was something so clear and decided in the girl's manner that it overpowered Henry who had no very clear idea to oppose to it, and he actually obeyed the nod of this girl, whom he had hitherto looked on as an amiable simpleton.
"I have no objection to that," said he, turning to Mr. Carden. Then, after another look at Jael, he said, demurely, "Is there any insurance office you could recommend?"
Mr. Carden smiled. "There is only one I have a right to recommend, and that is the 'Gosshawk.' I am a director. But," said he, with sudden stiffness, "I could furnish you with the names of many others."
Henry saw his way clear by this time. "No, sir, if I profit by your advice, the least I can do is to choose the one you are a director of."
Grace, who had latterly betrayed uneasiness and irritation, now rose, red as fire. "The conversation is taking a turn I did not at all intend," said she, and swept out of the room with royal disdain.
Her father apologized carelessly for her tragical exit. "That is a young lady who detests business; but she does not object to its fruits--dresses, lace, footmen, diamonds, and a carriage to drive about in. On the contrary, she would be miserable without them."
"I should hope she never will be without them, sir."
"I'll take care of that."
Mr. Carden said this rather dryly, and then retired for a minute; and Grace who was not far off, with an ear like a hare, came back soon after.
But in the meantime Henry left his seat and went to Jael, and, leaning over her as she worked, said, "There is more in that head of yours than I thought."
"Oh, they all talk before me," said Jael, blushing faintly, and avoiding his eye.
"Jael Dence," said the young man, warmly, "I'm truly obliged to you."
"What for?"
"For your good advice. I didn't see how good it was till after I had taken it."
"I'm afeard Miss Grace gave you better."
"She advised me against my heart. What is the use of that?"
"Ay, young men are willful."
"Come, come, don't you go back. You are my friend and counselor."
"That is something," said Jael, in a low voice; and her hands trembled at her side.
"Why, my dear girl, what's the matter?"
"Hush! hush?"
CHAPTER VIII.
Grace came in, that moment, with a superb air. She settled herself on the sofa.
"Now, it is my turn, if you please. Pray, sir, do you think your life will be any safer for your insuring it? Insuring does not mean that you are not to be killed; but that, when you ARE, for your obstinacy, somebody else will get paid some money, to dance with over your grave."
"I beg your pardon, Grace," said Mr. Carden, entering with some printed papers in his hand. "That is not the only use of an insurance. He may want to marry, or to borrow a sum of money to begin business; and then a policy of insurance, with
"Yes, papa," said Grace; "but how plainly he shows-- But Mr. Little is a stranger, and even this terrible lesson has not-- So do pray advise him."
"I shall be very happy; but, when you are my age, you will know it is of little use intruding advice upon people."
"Oh, Mr. Little will treat it with proper respect, coming from one so much older than himself, and better acquainted with this wretched town. Will you not, Mr. Little?" said she, with so cunning a sweetness that the young fellow was entrapped, and assented, before he knew what he was about; then colored high at finding himself committed.
Mr. Carden reflected a moment. He then said, "I can't take upon myself to tell any man to give up his livelihood. But one piece of advice I can conscientiously give Mr. Little."
"Yes, papa."
"And that is--TO INSURE HIS LIFE."
"Oh, papa!" cried Grace.
As for Henry he was rather amused, and his lip curled satirically. But the next moment he happened to catch sight of Jael Dence's face; her gray eyes were expanded with a look of uneasiness; and, directly she caught his eye she fixed it, and made him a quick movement of the head, directing him to assent.
There was something so clear and decided in the girl's manner that it overpowered Henry who had no very clear idea to oppose to it, and he actually obeyed the nod of this girl, whom he had hitherto looked on as an amiable simpleton.
"I have no objection to that," said he, turning to Mr. Carden. Then, after another look at Jael, he said, demurely, "Is there any insurance office you could recommend?"
Mr. Carden smiled. "There is only one I have a right to recommend, and that is the 'Gosshawk.' I am a director. But," said he, with sudden stiffness, "I could furnish you with the names of many others."
Henry saw his way clear by this time. "No, sir, if I profit by your advice, the least I can do is to choose the one you are a director of."
Grace, who had latterly betrayed uneasiness and irritation, now rose, red as fire. "The conversation is taking a turn I did not at all intend," said she, and swept out of the room with royal disdain.
Her father apologized carelessly for her tragical exit. "That is a young lady who detests business; but she does not object to its fruits--dresses, lace, footmen, diamonds, and a carriage to drive about in. On the contrary, she would be miserable without them."
"I should hope she never will be without them, sir."
"I'll take care of that."
Mr. Carden said this rather dryly, and then retired for a minute; and Grace who was not far off, with an ear like a hare, came back soon after.
But in the meantime Henry left his seat and went to Jael, and, leaning over her as she worked, said, "There is more in that head of yours than I thought."
"Oh, they all talk before me," said Jael, blushing faintly, and avoiding his eye.
"Jael Dence," said the young man, warmly, "I'm truly obliged to you."
"What for?"
"For your good advice. I didn't see how good it was till after I had taken it."
"I'm afeard Miss Grace gave you better."
"She advised me against my heart. What is the use of that?"
"Ay, young men are willful."
"Come, come, don't you go back. You are my friend and counselor."
"That is something," said Jael, in a low voice; and her hands trembled at her side.
"Why, my dear girl, what's the matter?"
"Hush! hush?"
CHAPTER VIII.
Grace came in, that moment, with a superb air. She settled herself on the sofa.
"Now, it is my turn, if you please. Pray, sir, do you think your life will be any safer for your insuring it? Insuring does not mean that you are not to be killed; but that, when you ARE, for your obstinacy, somebody else will get paid some money, to dance with over your grave."
"I beg your pardon, Grace," said Mr. Carden, entering with some printed papers in his hand. "That is not the only use of an insurance. He may want to marry, or to borrow a sum of money to begin business; and then a policy of insurance, with