Sixty-five thousand dollars was a staggering amount of money, a fortune, in fact, in that quiet town, and yet there was not one of that little family who didn’t rejoice that Joe had turned the offer down.
“You did the right thing, Joe,” said his father heartily; “and the fact that lots of people would call you foolish doesn’t change things in the least. A man who sells himself for a hundred thousand dollars is just as contemptible as one who sells himself for a dollar. I’m proud of you, my boy.”
“I could have told beforehand just what Joe would do,” said Mrs. Matson, wiping her eyes.
“You’re the darlingest brother ever!” exclaimed Clara, coming round the table and giving him a hug and a kiss.
The thought of Clara being a sister to him had never appealed to Jim before, but just at that moment it would have had its advantages.
For the rest of the meal all were engrossed in talking of the great event of the morning—that is, all but Joe, who kept casting surreptitious glances at the clock. 36
“Don’t get worried, Joe,” said his sister mischievously, as she intercepted one of his glances. “Mabel’s train doesn’t get in until half-past two, and it isn’t one o’clock yet.”
Joe flushed a little and Jim laughed.
“Can you blame him?” he asked.
“Not a bit,” answered Clara. “Mabel’s a darling and I’m crazy to get hold of her. After Joe, though, of course,” she added.