"Pa! ISN'T that splendid—for Grandfather Monroe! I think that's very nice. They know what this town would have amounted to without HIM! All those fine reference books in the library—and files and files of bound magazine's! And didn't he give the property for the church?"
Every one present was aware that he had; there was enthusiastic assent about the table.
"They propose," Malcolm added as a climax, "to erect a statue of Leonard Monroe in a prominent place in that Park; my gift."
"Pa!" said a delighted chorus. The girls' shining eyes were moist.
"It was Selwyn's idea that there should be a fund for the cost of the statue," their father said. "But as the town will feel the added taxation in any case, I propose to make that my gift. The cost is not large, the time limit for paying it indefinite."
"Twenty thousand dollars?" Martie, who had a passion for guessing, ventured eagerly.
"Not so much." But Malcolm was pleased to have the reality so much more moderate than the guess. "Between two and three thousand."
"Some money!" Leonard exclaimed. He grinned at Martie contemptuously. "TWENTY!" said he.
"Your sister naturally has not much idea of the value of money," Malcolm said, with what was for him rare tolerance. "Yes, it is a large sum, but I can give it, and if my townspeople turn to me for this tribute to their most distinguished pioneer ..."
During the rest of the meal no other subject was discussed.