“That isn’t fair, mother,” said Eveline, good-humoredly. “We object to any attempt on your part to use influence. Father must decide this matter for himself in freedom. We’ve got your promise, and now we must get his.” “I’m sure that is using influence, and with a double power. First, you get me to make a conditional promise, and then set to work to influence the conditions. No, no; I object also. Let father, as you say, decide this matter in freedom.” “Very well; father shall speak for himself,” said Eunice. “Let me put the question. Are you willing to give up this house, and take the one alluded to, which only rents for two hundred dollars?” “If all of you agree to it; if all are willing, I promise not to object.” “There, do you hear that, mother?” exclaimed Eveline. Mrs Townsend looked surprised and serious. “But, is there any necessity for this?” she asked, turning her eyes upon her husband’s face. “Perhaps it would be a prudent step for us to take, provided we could be comfortable and happy under the change,” he replied. “I hardly think we can be,” said Mrs. Townsend, looking troubled. “Then we will not move,” was promptly answered. “But what is to hinder us?” urged Eunice. “The house is large enough, and the rooms of a good size. The situation is pleasant, and the appearance of the house very nearly equal to the one we now live in. With all this in its favor, and added thereto, the fact that the change made a saving of two hundred dollars in our expenses, perhaps more, and I hardly think we would be less comfortable or happy. Father has said that this reduction of our expenses would be a prudent step to take. Should we hesitate a moment after this?” “He should know what is best, certainly,” said Mrs. Townsend, struck with the force of application that Eunice gave to her father’s words. “And if he thinks it prudent, we ought by all means to move. But, before it is done, the necessity for it should be understood by all of us, and then we can all enter into and promote it with a more cheerful spirit.” “Very true, indeed,” answered Mr. Townsend; “and I will therefore state, that my business does not promise so well as it did a short time ago; that I have met with a serious loss by the failure of a house to which I sold a large amount of goods, and that, therefore, it will be a measure of prudence to do as the girls propose. For their willingness to make sacrifices, and to prompt to further reductions of expense, we certainly ought to feel deeply grateful. To find them as they are, is to find light in a dark place--to meet streams in a desert. With such loving hearts to sustain us, we ought never to despond.” CHAPTER XVII. THE USES OF ADVERSITY.