“What, besides the service of God, do I really live for in this world? For his happiness. Yes, my profound heart, that is it! For his good, his interests, his welfare. I have not been an obstacle to his happiness. I have not been a stumbling block in the way of his marrying another. No! for I feel that he loves me as he never loved another; and I love him as he was never loved by another; and has any other the instinct, the inspiration, the strength and patience to bear with him, that God has placed in my heart? I will believe and trust in the Lord and His inspirations. And heart, and brain, and hands,—all that I am, and all that I have, will I devote to his service. And until he restores me, that alone shall make my occupation and my happiness.”
The next morning being Monday, she arose with the intention of taking seriously in hand the business of the estate. This was now the first of December, and there was a great deal to be done before the close of the year, in financial, as well as in domestic and agricultural matters. The overseer and the hired farm-laborers had all been paid in advance, up to the first of January. And Major Clifton had left Catherine twelve hundred dollars in cash, for her own current expenses. All this money she had at once determined to devote to another purpose—namely—to lifting some of those notes which would fall due on the first of the year. She determined, also, in order to help to clear off the incubus of debt for the coming year, to try to find a tenant for Hardbargain, and to devote the rent to the taking up of the remaining notes. She went into a patient and thorough examination of the overseer’s accounts, and discovered, with much pain, that he had embezzled the funds trusted to him for the payment of the hired hands; and a stricter review of his conduct, resulted in the detection of other malpractices, that decided Catherine to give him warning. A very little observation convinced her, also, that the “baker’s dozen of hired laborers, all his own kin folks,” were an unnecessary and expensive set of idle parasites, of whom she determined to rid the plantation at the end of the year. She finally concluded still further to lower the scale of expenditures, by parting with her housekeeper. She reconciled herself to this last step, when she heard of a place in the neighborhood to which Mrs. Mercer might go. Yet Catherine did not wish to make these important changes without again consulting Major Clifton. And, perhaps—let the whole truth be told—perhaps poor Kate was desirous to hear from him, and glad of a fair business excuse to write. And she wrote the following note. She had some trouble with it. It was the first (except the lines at the funeral,) she had ever written him, and, under all the circumstances, she hesitated how to begin, or how to end it. She disliked to address him as a mere acquaintance, and she shrunk from any warmer manner of greeting. Finally, she wrote, as she would have written to a friend—thus—
“White Cliffs, December 8th, 1812.
“Dear Major Clifton:—
“After a very careful investigation of the affairs of the plantation, and much patient thought concerning them, I have concluded—if I have your approbation and authority for doing so—that the establishment can be cut down so as to reduce the annual expenditure to about one-half its present amount—also, that the Hardbargain farm can be let for a sum, double the annual amount of what we can save at White Cliffs. And, finally, that the aggregate of these moneys, saved and acquired, will be sufficient, in two years, to pay off the accumulated debts oppressing the estate. (Here followed a more detailed account of her plans.) Please write, and let me know if I have your authority for proceeding.
Yours, faithfully,
“CATHERINE.”
In due time, Catherine received the answer. She seized it with an eager hand. She opened it with trembling fingers. She most unreasonably hoped—poor girl—for some kind, relenting word—some token of approbation or affection. Truly, she believed in miracles. This was the precious epistle—
“Hampton, December 16th, 1812.
“Madam:—