The minister looked amused but did not offer to take it:
“That's all right,” he said pleasantly, “We don't keep boarders you know. You were welcome to what we could give you.”
“But, my dear sir, I couldn't think of not remunerating you,” declared Laurie.
“And I couldn't think of taking it,” smiled the minister.
“Well, then take it for your poor people,” he insisted.
“From what Lynn tells me you have more of those than we have,” answered the minister.
The young man looked annoyed:
“Well, then take it for something for your church, another bell or something, anything you're interested in.”
“I can give you an address of a young missionary out West who is having a hard time of it, and has a very needy parish,” said the minister taking out his fountain pen and writing the address on a card, “but I should prefer that you would send it to him yourself. He wouldn't take it from me, but if you'd send it he'll write and tell you what he does with it, and he'll tell me too, so it will give pleasure all around. He's a game young chap, and he's given his life. You couldn't help but like him.”
Laurie had to be content with this, though he felt annoyed at having to write a letter to a missionary. He felt he shouldn't know how to address him.