iligently
she had wrought, how prudently managed, to help him to his handsome
property. He knew with what affection she regarded that home and farm,
and every fruit-tree, and shade-tree and sugar-maple; every flower-bed,
and herb-bank, and rose-tree and vine; every comfort and convenience
around them; and how it might wring her heart, and how Fanny might weep
to see the old homestead go to another; and he concluded, it was best
on the whole, to take time for reflection, and if at last he determined
to sell, and become a merchant, he would let his family know but little
of his plan at a time, and prepare them gradually, as Fairbanks
considerately advised, to incline to his will, and consent to try the
change.

Before the end of another week, and before Fabens had decided on their
proposition, Frisbie came again for the loan of another note, of three
hundred dollars, and left, saying, "they were perfectly willing he
should take his own time, to make up his mind about coming into the new
firm; that this note should be looked after and paid as promptly as all
the others had been, and he would find that John Fairbanks as clever a
fellow as ever dealt with him."

XXIV.

A WEEK OF CASTLE BUILDING.

The last assurance of Frisbie was indeed very kind, but unnecessary;
for Squire Fabens was well convinced before the last visit, that
Fairbanks was all he had been represented to be; and that conviction
rose from a simple and cool opinion to a warm and loving faith, when he
considered all the gifts they gave; the generous solicitations, which
merchants but seldom extended to farmers; and the liberty they allowed
him, to take his own time and look the matter carefully over.

It was a mean suspicion, he thought, which could longer fear deception.
Had it been their design to deceive, why all that frankness; that fair
and candid proposing; that trusting to his own mind to weigh, and his
own time to return an answer? Villains would have been more exacting
in their terms, and briefer in their plans and proposals. Villains
would have talked in a lower tone, attempted to hurry him to
agreements, and hastened the signing and sealing. With those
gentlemen, all was generous, candid, moderate, indulgent; and even if
he concluded not to accept their magnanimous offer, he should always
remember the kindness in which it was made.

A whole week was before him; yes, two or three weeks if he wanted it,
to weigh the proposal and retu