Chapter 40

           Wiseinhisdailyworkwashe:Tofruitsofdiligence,Andnottofaithsorpolity,Hepliedhisutmostsense.Theseperfectintheirlittleparts,Whoseworkisalltheirprize—Withoutthemhowcouldlaws,orarts,Ortoweredcitiesrise?

           Inwatchingeffects,ifonlyofanelectricbattery,itisoftennecessarytochangeourplaceandexamineaparticularmixtureorgroupatsomedistancefromthepointwherethemovementweareinterestedinwassetup.ThegroupIammovingtowardsisatCalebGarth’sbreakfast-tableinthelargeparlorwherethemapsanddeskwere:father,mother,andfiveofthechildren.Marywasjustnowathomewaitingforasituation,whileChristy,theboynexttoher,wasgettingcheaplearningandcheapfareinScotland,havingtohisfather’sdisappointmenttakentobooksinsteadofthatsacredcalling"business."

           Thelettershadcome—ninecostlyletters,forwhichthepostmanhadbeenpaidthreeandtwopence,andMr.Garthwasforgettinghisteaandtoastwhilehereadhislettersandlaidthemopenoneabovetheother,sometimesswayinghisheadslowly,sometimesscrewinguphismouthininwarddebate,butnotforgettingtocutoffalargeredsealunbroken,whichLettysnatcheduplikeaneagerterrier.

           Thetalkamongtherestwentonunrestrainedly,fornothingdisturbedCaleb’sabsorptionexceptshakingthetablewhenhewaswriting.

           TwolettersoftheninehadbeenforMary.