The notion of dropping five hundred from his salary delighted her, because they must now cut down their expenses as much; and she had long grieved over their expenses without being able to make Bartley agree to their reduction. She went upstairs at once and gave the little nurse-maid a week's warning; she told the maid of all work that she must take three dollars a week hereafter instead of four, or else find another place; she mentally forewent new spring dresses for herself and the baby, and arranged to do herself all of the wash she had been putting out; she put a note in the mouth of the can at the back door, telling the milkman to leave only two quarts in future; and she came radiantly back to tell Bartley that she had saved half of the lost five hundred a year already. But her countenance fell. “Why, where are you to get the other fifteen hundred dollars, Bartley?” “Oh, I've thought of that,” said Bartley, laughing at her swift alternations of triumph and despair. “You trust to me for that.” “You're not--not going to ask father for it?” she faltered. “Not very much,” said Bartley, as he took his hat to go out. He meant to make a raise out of Ben Halleck, as he phrased it to himself. He knew that Halleck had plenty of money; he could make the stock itself over to him as security; he did not see why Halleck should hesitate. But when he entered Halleck's room, having asked Cyrus to show him directly there, Halleck gave a start which seemed ominous to Bartley. He had scarcely the heart to open his business, and Halleck listened with changing color, and something only too like the embarrassment of a man who intends a refusal. He would not look Bartley in the face, and when Bartley had made an end he sat for a time without speaking. At last he said with a quick sigh, as if at the close of an internal conflict, “I will lend you the money!” Bartley's heart gave a bound, and he broke out into an immense laugh of relief, and clapped Halleck on the shoulder. “You looked deucedly as if you _wouldn't_, old man! By George, you had on such a dismal, hang-dog expression that I didn't know but _you'd_ come to borrow money of _me_, and I'd made up my mind not to let you have it! But I'm everlastingly obliged to you, Halleck, and I promise you that you won't regret it.” “I shall have to speak to my father about this,” said Halleck, responding coldly to Bartley's robust pressure of his hand. “Of course,--of course.” “How soon shall you want the money?” “Well, the sooner the better, now. Bring the check round--can't you?--to-morrow night,--and take dinner with us, you and Olive; and we'll celebrate a little. I know it will please Marcia when she finds out who my hard-hearted creditor is!” “Well,” assented Halleck with a smile so ghastly that Bartley noticed it even in his joy. “Curse me,” he said to himself, “if ever I saw a man so ashamed of doing a good action!” XXX.