Page:Stanwood Pier--The ancient grudge.djvu/196

Rh with joy. The set of furniture that Floyd had given her for a wedding present, and that had been stored away ever since her marriage, graced the little parlor in a way that made her wonder if such things could really be her own. With this raising of the standard, she took a proud pleasure in the expenditure of the thousand dollars that her mother and her husband had allowed her for fitting up the house. They had been but a few days in the enjoyment of this wonderful perfection when Hugh, returning from work one evening, met the builder on the street. The builder asked if the house was all right, and when Hugh spoke with enthusiasm of it, he remarked, "I'm glad to hear it; I've just mailed the bill to Mr. Lee—and at such a time it's good to know there are no kicks coming."

Hugh asked the amount of the bill, expecting to be told that it was fifty or a hundred dollars in excess of the contract price, and prepared, in view of the result, to pay this excess cheerfully.

"A shade under six thousand dollars," said the builder.

Hugh put out his hand, and grasping a picket of the fence clenched it till its sharp edges cut into his fingers.

"You're joking," he said, with an effort to laugh. "Mr. Lee promised it would n't cost but three thousand."

The builder shook his head with a compassionate smile. "Why, you did n't think you were getting all that for three thousand dollars!" He added by way of consolation, "A house generally costs more than it sets out to."

Hugh made no answer; he stood silently gripping the paling and looking off up the hill. After a moment he walked away; his steps lagged and his head was bowed; he was trying to figure in his mind the amount of the mortgage that would be necessary, the interest, the years it would take him to pay off the debt. He did not reveal the ill news that night to Letty, and she was puzzled and distressed by his depression. The next morning, getting leave of absence from the mill superintendent, he went to Avalon to Stewart Lee's office. He insisted on seeing the