He was so much gratified, indeed, that
he immediately wrote to him stating his intention of supplementing his
income by half as much more.
This reflected opinion of others wrought also to the mollifying of his
mother's feelings toward him; but those with which she regarded Annie
they only served to indurate, as the more revealing the girl's
unworthiness of him. And although at first she regarded with favor her
husband's kind intention toward Hector, she faced entirely round when he
showed her a letter he had from his son thanking him for his generosity,
and communicating his intention of begging Annie to come to him and be
married at once.
Annie was living at home, feeding on Hector's letters, and strengthened
by her mother's sympathy. She was teaching regularly at the High School,
and adding a little to their common income by giving a few music
lessons, as well as employing her needle in a certain kind of embroidery
a good deal sought after, in which she excelled. She had heard nothing
of his having begun to distinguish himself, neither had yet seen one of
the reviews of his book, for no one had taken the trouble to show her
any of them.
One day, however, as she stood waiting a moment for something she wanted
in the principal bookshop of the town, a little old lady, rather
shabbily dressed, came in, whom she heard say to the shopman, in a
gentle voice, and with the loveliest smile:
"Have you another copy of this new poem by your townsman, young
Macintosh?"
"I am sorry I have not, ma'am," answered the shopman; "but I can get you
one by return of post.
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