Surprise kept me silent for some time.  But as soon as my thoughts ran free, I answered—­

“No—­no, Mr. Wallingford.  This is fixing the sum entirely beyond a fair estimate.  I cannot for a moment—­”

He stopped me before I could finish the sentence.

“Doctor!” He spoke with earnestness and deep feeling.  “There is no living man to whom I am so heavily indebted as I am to you.  Not until after my marriage was I aware that your favorable word, given without qualification, bore me into the confidence of Mrs. Montgomery, and thus opened the way for me to happiness and fortune.  My good Blanche has often repeated to me the language you once used in my favor, and which awakened in her mind an interest which gradually deepened into love.  My heart moves towards you, Doctor, and you must let its impulses have way in this small matter.  Do not feel it as an obligation.  That is all on our side.  We cannot let Ivy Cottage go entirely out of the family.  We wish to have as much property in it as the pilgrim has in Mecca.  We must visit it sometimes, and feel always that its chambers are the abodes of peace and love.  A kind Providence has given us of this world’s goods an abundance.  We did not even have to lift our hands to the ripe clusters.  They fell into our laps.  And now, if, from our plenty, we take a small portion and discharge a debt, will you push aside the offering, and say, No?  Doctor, this must not be!”

Again I essayed objection; but all was in vain.  Ivy Cottage was to be our pleasant home.  When, on returning with Constance, I related to her what had passed between Mr. Wallingford and myself, she was affected to tears.

“If I have ever had a covetous thought,” she said, “it has been when I looked at Ivy Cottage.  And to think it is to be mine!  The sweetest, dearest spot in S——!”

There was no putting aside this good fortune.  It came in such a shape, that we could not refuse it without doing violence to the feelings of true-hearted friends.  And so, when they removed to their new home, we passed to Ivy Cottage.

The two years that followed were marked by no events of striking interest.  The affairs of Judge Bigelow continued to assume a better shape, under the persistent direction of Mr. Wallingford, until every dollar which he had invested in the cotton mills was withdrawn and placed in real estate or sound securities.  Long before this there had come an open rupture between the old man and his nephew; but the Judge had seen his real character in so clear a light that friendship was no longer desirable.

CHAPTER XXX.