Belle, attended by her father, was not in the least abashed by the elegance of Mr. Schriven’s parlor, as he had rather hoped she would be, but he was much impressed by Mr. Jocelyn’s fine appearance and courtly bearing.  “No wonder the girl’s course has been peculiar,” he thought.  “She comes from no common stock.  If I’ve ever seen a Southern gentleman, her father’s one, and her plump little body is full of hot Southern blood.  She’s a thoroughbred, and that accounts for her smartness and fearlessness.  Where other girls would whine and toady to your face, and be sly and catlike behind your back, she’d look you in the eyes and say all she meant point-blank.  I’m glad indeed things are taking their present course, for these people could make any man trouble,” and he treated his guests very suavely.

Belle soon told her story in a straightforward manner.  One of her generous projects was to have a rather grand funeral, with all the girls in the shop attending in a procession.  “What a child she is!” thought Mr. Schriven, with difficulty repressing a laugh, but he proceeded very gravely to induce the girl to take his own practical view.

“In the first place, my child,” he said, “that woman died of consumption—­she didn’t starve at all.”

“I think she died the sooner,” Belle faltered.

“Possibly.  If so, she was the sooner out of her misery.  At any rate we are not to blame, since, as you have said, we didn’t know.  Now a funeral, such as you suggest, would be very costly, and would do no one any good.  It would scarcely be in good taste, for, considering the poor woman’s circumstances, it would be ostentatious.”

“Belle, Mr. Schriven is right,” said her father, in a tone of quiet authority.

“Let us rather consider the need of the daughter,” Mr. Schriven resumed.  “You say she is worn and weak from watching and work.  A quarter of the money that a funeral would cost would give her two or three weeks in the country.  And now,” he concluded impressively—­his conscience needed a little soothing, and his purse was plethoric with the thousand dollars wrung from those who had the misfortune to be in his power—­“I will pay her board at some quiet farmhouse for three weeks, and then she’ll come back fresh and strong to her old place.”

Belle’s eyes filled with tears of gladness.  “You are right, sir, and you are very kind and generous.  I know just the place for her to go—­the people we’ve been with all summer.  They are kind, and will do everything for her, and take away her strange feeling at once.  Oh, I’m so glad it’s all ending so much better than I feared!  I thought this morning I could never be happy again, but you’ve made all seem so different and hopeful.  I thank you, sir, over and over, and I’ll do my best now at the store, and be respectful to every one.”