"Come away, my dears. Up to the study, Jean; that's where the fire is to-day. I'm delighted to see you both. What a blessing Agnes is baking pancakes It seemed almost a waste, for neither John nor I eat them, but, you see, they had just been meant for you…. I wouldn't go just now, John. We'll have an early tea and that will give you a long evening."
Jean explained that she specially wanted to see Mr. Macdonald.
"And would you like me to go away?" Mrs. Macdonald asked. "Miss Reston and I can go to the dining-room."
"But I want you as much as Mr. Macdonald," said Jean. "It's your advice
I want—about the money, you know."
Mrs. Macdonald gave a deep sigh. "Ah, money," she said—"the root of all evil."
"Not at all, my dear," her husband corrected. "The love of money is the root of all evil—a very different thing. Money can be a very fine thing."
"Oh," said Jean, "that's what I want you to tell me. How can I make this money a blessing?"
Mr. Macdonald gave his twisted smile.
"And am I to answer you in one word, Jean? I fear it's a word too wide for a mouth of this age's size. You will have to make mistakes and learn by them and gradually feel your way."
"The most depressing thing about money," put in his wife, "is that the Bible should say so definitely that a rich man can hardly get into heaven. Oh, I know all about a needle's eye being a gate, but I've always a picture in my own mind of a camel and an ordinary darning-needle, and anything more hopeless could hardly be imagined."