"Unhappily, he is in his power." "So it seems. Well, what do you wish me to do in the case?" "To lend _me_ three hundred dollars," said Mary, promptly. Thus encouraged to speak, she did not hesitate a moment. "Lend _you_ three hundred dollars! returned Mr. Green, rather surprised at the directness of her request. "For what use?" "To pay off this mortgage, of course," replied Mary. "But, who will pay me back my money?" inquired Mr. Green. "I will," said Mary, confidently. "You! Pray where do you expect to get so much money from?" "I expect to earn it," was firmly answered. Mr. Green paused, and turning towards Mary, looked earnestly into her young face that was lit up with a beautiful enthusiasm. "Earn it, did you say?" "Yes, sir, I will earn and pay it back to you, if it takes a lifetime to do it in." "How will you earn it, Mary?" Mary let her eyes fall to the ground, and stood for a moment or two. Then looking up, she said-- "I will go to Lowell." "To Lowell?" "Yes, sir." "And work in a factory?" "Yes, sir." Mr. Green moved on again, but in silence, and Mary walked with an anxious heart by his side. For the distance of several hundred yards they passed along and not a word was spoken. "To Lowell?" at length dropped from the lips of Mr. Green, in a tone half interrogative, half in surprise. Mary did not respond, and the silence continued until they came to a point in the road where their two ways diverged. "Have you thought well of this, Mary?" said Mr. Green, as he paused here, and laid his hand upon a gate that opened into a part of his farm. "Why should I think about it, Mr. Green?" replied Mary. "It is no time to think, but to act. Hundreds of girls go into factories, and it will be to me no hardship, but a pleasure, if thereby I can help my father in this great extremity." "Is he aware of your purpose?" "Oh, no sir! no!" "He would never listen to such a thing." "Not for a moment." "Then will you be right in doing what he must disapprove?" "It is done for his sake. Love for him is my prompter, and that will bear me up even against his displeasure." "But he may prevent your going, Mary." "Not if you will do as I wish." "Speak on." "Lend me three hundred dollars on my promise to you that I will immediately go to Lowell, enter a factory, and remain at work until the whole sum is paid back again from my earnings." "Well!" "I will then take the money and pay off the mortgage. This will release father from his debt to Mr. Dyer, and bring me in debt to you." "I see." "Father is an honest and an honourable man." "He is, Mary," said Mr. Green. His voice slightly trembled, for he was touched by the words of the gentle girl. "He will not be able to pay you the debt in my stead." "No." "And, therefore, deeply reluctant as he may be to let me go, he cannot say nay." "Walk along with me to my house," said Mr. Green, as he pushed open the gate at which he stood, "I must think about this a little more."