There could be no doubt that Lucille meant it. She was headstrong and accustomed to overriding opposition: to having her own way. The horns of the dominie's dilemma were two: he must sacrifice his proper pride and take her money--which he could not bring himself to do--or he must lose the church the additional income he had been urged by Burton to try to secure. His duty to his manhood demanded that he refuse Lucille's offer; his duty to his church demanded that he secure her increased monetary support if possible. “You are kind, and I know your suggestion is kindly meant, Mrs. Hardcome,” he said. “I admit that my debts do worry me--they worry me more than I dare say--but, if your generosity is such as I believe it to be, my case is not hopeless.” He smiled. “May I speak as frankly as you have spoken? Then, I do _not_ find my salary quite enough for my needs, but--except for one creditor--no one is pressing me. I, and not they, am doing the worrying. Well, my trustees have promised me an ample increase as soon as the church income warrants it. To be quite frank, if you should give--as you have suggested--a thousand dollars annually, or even half that sum, my stipend will be increased two hundred and fifty dollars. No, wait one moment! With such economies as I can initiate that would permit me to be quite out of debt in a very few years.” “If I were in your place,” said Lucille frankly, “I would prefer to get out of debt to-day.” “But I repeat,” said David, “I cannot take the money.” “Very well,” said Lucille haughtily, and she opened her purse and placed the schedule of debts on the dominie's desk. She arose and David also. “I'll tell you plainly, Mr. Dean, that I think you are foolish.” “Not foolish but, perhaps, reluctant to accept personal charity,” said Dean. Lucille was not stupid, but she looked into his eyes some time before she spoke. “Oh, it is that way, is it!” she said cheerfully, “Yes, I understand! But that is quite beside the point I had in mind. I did not want you to feel that at all! Of course you would feel that! It is quite right. But we can arrange all that very easily, Mr. Dean; we can make it a loan--there is no reason why you should not accept a loan as well as any other man. I'll lend you the money--temporarily--and when your increase of salary comes you can pay it back. With interest, if you wish.” “If I could make the payments quarterly, on my salary days--” hesitated David. “Certainly!” cooed Lucille, delighted to have won her point. “It can be that way.” “I should like the transaction to be regular; a note with interest. Seven per cent is usual, I believe.”