“Just think of the immense value of this institution to the people. Here will be a large library, from which the whole town may take books without cost. Here will be a great hall, warmed and lighted, open day and evening, supplied with all the newspapers and magazines of the day, where the citizens can sit and read publications which would cost them a hundred dollars a year to obtain individually. Here is a conversation-room, where they can meet to talk politics, religion, ships, and factories. Don’t you think they will be grateful to you?” “Doubtless.” “They will insist upon having your name in connection with the enterprise.” “If that were the alternative, I wouldn’t do it at all. I intend to do this thing for the public good, not for my own glory. Giving my own name to such an institution, seems to me very much like putting ‘esquire’ to my own signature. I will not do it, or let it be done.” “Of course you will do as you please.” “I know of nothing that would make me feel cheaper and more insignificant, than to see my name in great letters on the proposed building. I abhor the very idea.” Eugene was decided, and he was sincere. He was not the man who offered to give a large sum of money to any town that would adopt his name; he could not have been even a friend of such a man. The balance was effectually used up, and Hungerford and his friend went to dinner with better appetites for the good work they had done. Dick had dropped back very easily into his old position, which was not less satisfactory to the family than to himself. Julia was in no respect altered from what she had been before Dick’s withdrawal from the mansion. She treated him now with the intimacy of friendship, but he did not seem at all disposed to improve his opportunity. He did not attempt to make love to her, resorted to no expedients to win her favor; in fact, he conducted himself in the most commonplace manner, precisely as though he did not intend to take advantage of Dr. Lynch’s absence. “Dick, we must get up a list of books for the public library,” said Eugene, after dinner. “That is no small matter.” “No; and as you and I have enough to do, I propose to leave the selection to another.” “I am entirely willing.” “I will carry what catalogues we have to Mary, and let her do this work. She has good taste and good judgment.” “Excellent!” laughed Dick. “John Porter will assist her.” “I think you had better assist her yourself.” Eugene took the catalogues and went to The Great Bell. He laid his bundle on the table in the parlor, and came away without saying a word about the public library. He forgot it. “To-morrow has come, Mary,” said he, as he took her hand, and kissed her cheek. Mary was troubled. “It has come too soon.” “Don’t you love me?” “I cannot deny it.” “Would you deny it?” “If I could I might be more true and just to you.” “If you love me, it is all I ask. You consent?” “I do not--yet.” “Why not, Mary?” “I do not deserve you.”