A mean man never agrees to anything without deliberately turning it over, so that he may see its dirty side, and, if he can, sweating the coin he pays for it.  If an archangel should offer to save his soul for sixpence, he would try to find a sixpence with a hole in it.  A gentleman says yes to a great many things without stopping to think:  a shabby fellow is known by his caution in answering questions, for fear of compromising his pocket or himself.

Mr. Silas Peckham looked very grave at the request.  The dooties of Miss Darley at the Institoot were important, very important.  He paid her large sums of money for her time,—­more than she could expect to get in any other institootion for the education of female youth.  A deduction from her salary would be necessary, in case she should retire from the sphere of her dooties for a season.  He should be put to extra expense, and have to perform additional labors himself.  He would consider of the matter.  If any arrangement could be made, he would send word to Squire Venner’s folks.

“Miss Darley,” said Silas Peckham, “the’ ’s a message from Squire Venner’s that his daughter wants you down at the mansion-house to see her.  She’s got a fever, so they inform me.  If it’s any kind of ketchin’ fever, of course you won’t think of goin’ near the mansion-house.  If Doctor Kittredge says it’s safe, perfec’ly safe, I can’t objec’ to your goin’, on sech conditions as seem to be fair to all concerned.  You will give up your pay for the whole time you are absent,—­portions of days to be caounted as whole days.  You will be charged with board the same as if you eat your victuals with the household.  The victuals are of no use after they’re cooked but to be eat, and your bein’ away is no savin’ to our folks.  I shall charge you a reasonable compensation for the demage to the school by the absence of a teacher.  If Miss Crabs undertakes any dooties belongin’ to your department of instruction, she will look to you for sech pecooniary considerations as you may agree upon between you.  On these conditions I am willin’ to give my consent to your temporary absence from the post of dooty.  I will step down to Doctor Kittredge’s, myself, and make inquiries as to the nature of the complaint.”

Mr. Peckham took up a rusty and very narrow-brimmed hat, which he cocked upon one side of his head, with an air peculiar to the rural gentry.  It was the hour when the Doctor expected to be in his office, unless he had some special call which kept him from home.

He found the Reverend Chauncy Fairweather just taking leave of the Doctor.  His hand was on the pit of his stomach, and his countenance expressive of inward uneasiness.

“Shake it before using,” said the Doctor; “and the sooner you make up your mind to speak right out, the better it will be for your digestion.”

“Oh, Mr. Peckham!  Walk in, Mr. Peckham!  Nobody sick up at the school, I hope?”

“The haalth of the school is fust-rate,” replied Mr. Peckham.  “The sitooation is uncommonly favorable to saloobrity.” (These last words were from the Annual Report of the past year.) “Providence has spared our female youth in a remarkable measure, I’ve come with reference to another consideration.  Dr. Kittredge. is there any ketchin’ complaint goin’ about in the village?”