nd hoping, and working, and inventing? You might as well tell
me to leave off living."

"No, my poor boy; I don't say that, neither. If it is really for her you
work, and invent, and struggle with fortune so nobly as I know you do,
persevere, and may God speed you. But, meantime, be generous, and don't
throw yourself in her way to compromise her."

The young man was overpowered by the kindness and firmness of his
senior, who was also Grace's father. He said, in a choking voice, there
was no self-denial he would not submit to, if it was understood that he
might still love Grace, and might marry her as soon as he could make a
proper settlement on her.

Then Mr. Carden, on his part, went further than he had intended, and
assented distinctly to all this, provided the delay was not unreasonable
in point of time. "I can't have her whole life wasted."

"Give me two years: I'll win her or lose her in that time." He then
asked, piteously, if he might see her.

"I am sorry to say No to that," was the reply; "but she has been already
very much agitated, and I should be glad to spare her further emotion.
You need not doubt her attachment to you, nor my esteem. You are a very
worthy, honest young man, and your conduct does much to reconcile me to
what I own is a disappointment."

Having thus gilded the pill, Mr. Carden shook hands with Henry Little,
and conducted him politely to the street door.

The young man went away slowly; for he was disconsolate at not seeing
Grace.

But, when he got home, his stout Anglo-Saxon heart reacted, and he faced
the situation.

He went to his mother and told her what had passed. She colored with
indignation, but said nothing.

"Well, mother, of course it might be better; but then it might be worse.
It's my own fault now if I lose her. Cutlery won't do it in the time,
but Invention will: so, from this hour, I'm a practical inventor, and
nothing but death shall stop me."

CHAPTER XXVII.

Grace Carden ran to the window, and saw Henry Little go away slowly,
and hanging his head. This visible dejection in her manly lover made
her heart rise to her throat, and she burst out sobbing and weeping with
alarming violence.

Mr. Carden found her in this state, and set himself to soothe her. He
told her the understanding he had come to with Mr. Little, and begged
her to be as reasonable and as patient as her lover was. But the appeal
was not successful. "He came to see me," she cried, "and