Extravagant Living CHAPTER 19.
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"Oh, Ellen!" exclaimed Lucy Arden, as she came bounding in upon Mrs. Lofton on the next morning, her face all a-glow, and her bright eyes dancing with pleasure, "I've got the nicest bit of news to tell you! What do you think?"
"I think you've lost one of your ear-rings," said Mrs. Lofton, smiling.
Lucy clapped her hands to her ears.
"I declare." A moment she paused thoughtfully. "Now I remember! I only put one of them in, I was in such eager haste to get off to see you. Ah, but Ellen, I've got some news that will make that dear little heart of yours leap again. Do you know that your husband is going into business with Mr. Ackland?"
"I ought to know something about it." replied Mrs. Lofton, with, to Lucy, provoking calmness. "He was here last night."
"Indeed! Oh! then mine is only 'Piper's news,' though I almost broke my neck, I was in such haste to bring it."
"What you say, Lucy, is none the less welcome to my ears," replied Mrs. Lofton tenderly, "and it brings me a double pleasure. It not only confirms the promise of last evening — but your earnest and loving interest in my welfare, touches my heart with a feeling which I have no words to express. Lucy, you and yours have been fast friends to me from the beginning. I can never forget it — never."
"And so Mr. Ackland was here to see you last evening?" said Lucy, regaining her slightly disturbed equanimity.
"Yes. He called to see Archie, and sat and talked for two hours."
"And it's all arranged, I suppose, that your husband is to go into business with him."
"I can't exactly say that, Lucy. An arrangement such as is proposed, requires deliberation on both sides. Many preliminaries were talked over, and they are to have another interview in a day or two. Everything now looks favorable, certainly."
"It will all rest with your husband, I am sure," said Lucy. "He has only to say the word. Father told us that Mr. Ackland was perfectly satisfied, and ready to offer most tempting inducements. And now Ellen, dear, I've got one piece of news for you, that will be news. Do you know that your husband is indebted to you for this good fortune?"
"To me!" Well might the young wife look surprised. "To me, Lucy? You are in sport."
"Indeed, then, and I am not, my dear. It's true, every word of it. You remember the jewelry I wanted you to wear?"
"Yes."
"And the reason you gave for not accepting my offer?"
"O yes."
"You are right, Ellen — and I am so glad that your prudence and good sense were good against the temptation I laid in your way. I told father all about it, and he was so delighted. You don't know what complimentary things he said of you! Well, you see, Mr. Ackland was mightily pleased with you at the party, and inquired of father who you were; and then father told him all about the jewelry affair. This hit Mr. Ackland's fancy. He asked a great many questions about your husband, and said he would like to know him. And so you see what has come out of apparently the most unimportant thing in the world."
It was some time before Mrs. Lofton could make any reply. A declaration so unexpected, quite overpowered her.
"And is this really all so, Lucy?" she asked, in a voice that it required her utmost effort to keep steady.
"Every word of it, I declare!" was the earnestly spoken reply. "Oh! I am so glad! I couldn't rest until I ran over to tell you all about it. Who could have believed that so much hung on an unimportant trifle like this? We'll soon have you out of this poor little place, Ellen. There's a better time a-coming!"
"Not so soon, perhaps, as you imagine," said Mrs. Lofton, smiling.
"And why not?" asked Lucy.
"For the same reason that kept me from wearing jewelry that I could not afford to buy," answered Mrs. Lofton. "We shall remain here, depend upon it, Lucy, for a good while after my husband goes into business with Mr. Ackland, should the now-anticipated change take place. All our household arrangements will be quite as comfortable then, as now. I will never, as I have said before, mar my husband's prospects in life by extravagant living. Business will only be an experiment, and we shall await results, before going up higher. It is much easier to remain in a humble position, than be forced back into it again, after having enjoyed a better style of living, and the comforts and luxuries attendant thereon."
"But you will not be forced back, Ellen. Mr. Ackland has capital, and the new business will be sure to succeed."
"Not if its first profits are wasted in extravagant living."
"O dear! you are the most provoking creature," exclaimed Lucy Arden, good-humoredly. "Extravagant living! This is extravagant, truly!" And she glanced around the plainly furnished room in which they were sitting, in mock contempt.
"Everything we have is paid for, and that is something," answered Mrs. Lofton.
"Yes, it is something," was the emphatic reply of Lucy. "And a great deal, Ellen. Well, I suppose you are right after all; but I do want to see you living in better style. There were some people at our party who didn't treat you just to my liking. They hold their heads wonderfully high; but their personal worth is very small. I want to see you take your placebeside — nay, above them."
"A poor ambition that, Lucy. No — no. I wish to enter into no social rivalry; nor would I, were we worth hundreds of thousands. If my husband is successful in business — then our external condition will gradually improve. And this improvement will not be for the sake of gaining a position, but because increased means will give us the ability to secure more of the comforts and elegancies of life. But this is looking ahead too far. We have a long time to work and wait yet, and we are prepared to do so, hopeful and patiently. So, my kind, good friend, don't come here, putting extravagant notions into my head. See the harm you came near to doing, when you tried this before?"
"What harm?" inquired Lucy.
"Have you so soon forgotten the bracelet and string of pearls?"
<p align="justify">"True enough! And here I am, playing the part of tempter again. I think I'd better not come to see you any more. I'll be sure to lead you into some mischief in the end."
"No fear of that, Lucy. I shall be armored against all your enticements," was the quick answer of the prudent young wife.
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