"Yes," said Hudson, calmly. "She considers it right to support herself, and does so."
"Then it is more a matter of principle than necessity?"
"It is now, though it was hardly so at first. But as I have spoken of it, I might as well tell the whole story. You have asked to become better acquainted with Ella, and I will afford you the opportunity. My father, who is, as you are already aware, a watchmaker, understood well enough the advantages of education to give me every opportunity in his power. He sent me to college until I was twenty years of age, and then supported me while I studied medicine, which was for two years longer. As soon as I got my diploma I proposed going South, knowing but too well, that if I remained here, in the effort to get a practice, I would have still to burden my father, who could ill bear it. But to this not a single member of the family would listen. My father said no—my mother said no—my sisters said no. But I was firm. I could not believe it just any longer to depend upon my father, who was getting old."
"Seeing that I was unmoved by all that could be urged, my good sisters proposed teaching music as a means of adding to the income of the family, and thus enabling me to remain without its bearing so heavily upon my father."
"Noble girls!" ejaculated Dr. Baldwin.
"But I rejected the proposal instantly. Pride, or something else in me, took fire at the idea of my sisters teaching music to support me. I would not hear of it. They said that it would make no difference whether I remained in Philadelphia or went away—that their minds were made up to take music scholars and support themselves; and affirmed that music teaching, so far from being disgraceful, was quite as honorable as practising medicine. Upon this, my father, who had only reasoned with me before, approached me on the subject with such a moving appeal, and such exhibition of feeling, that I could no longer resist. I remained. The girls commenced giving lessons, and, no matter how much they affirmed to the contrary to save my feelings, supported me for a year, when I received my present appointment. Since then my oldest sister has married, and Ella continues her professional duties, and has scholars in some families where I have patients. I have long urged her to give them up; but she says that she is usefully employed, and is happier than if she were idle."
"You're proud of her, doctor, ain't you?" said Baldwin with enthusiasm.
"I love her," was Hudson's feeling reply.
"And well you may. The earth bears but few like her upon its surface. I must know her better, doctor, with your permission, as I said before."
"We shall all be happy to receive your visits, doctor," replied Hudson. "You will find us plain people, but with hearts, I trust, in the right place."