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actually worth a hundred thousand dollars in clean； imaginary cash。
Yet so it was。
It was the last time that ever Aleck was afraid of a margin；
at least afraid enough to let it break her sleep and pale her cheek
to the extent that this first experience in that line had done。
Indeed it was a memorable night。 Gradually the realization that they
were rich sank securely home into the souls of the pair； then they
began to place the money。 If we could have looked out through
the eyes of these dreamers； we should have seen their tidy little
wooden house disappear； and two…story brick with a cast…iron fence
in front of it take its place； we should have seen a three…globed
gas…chandelier grow down from the parlor ceiling； we should have seen
the homely rag carpet turn to noble Brussels； a dollar and a half
a yard； we should have seen the plebeian fireplace vanish away and
a recherch'e； big base…burner with isinglass windows take position
and spread awe around。 And we should have seen other things；
too； among them the buggy； the lap…robe； the stove…pipe hat； and so on。
From that time forth； although the daughters and the neighbors
saw only the same old wooden house there； it was a two…story
brick to Aleck and Sally and not a night went by that Aleck did
not worry about the imaginary gas…bills； and get for all comfort
Sally's reckless retort： 〃What of it？ We can afford it。〃
Before the couple went to bed； that first night that they were rich；
they had decided that they must celebrate。 They must give a party
that was the idea。 But how to explain itto the daughters and
the neighbors？ They could not expose the fact that they were rich。
Sally was willing； even anxious； to do it； but Aleck kept her head
and would not allow it。 She said that although the money was as
good as in； it would be as well to wait until it was actually in。
On that policy she took her stand； and would not budge。
The great secret must be kept； she saidkept from the daughters and
everybody else。
The pair were puzzled。 They must celebrate； they were determined
to celebrate； but since the secret must be kept； what could
they celebrate？ No birthdays were due for three months。
Tilbury wasn't available； evidently he was going to live forever；
what the nation COULD they celebrate？ That was Sally's way
of putting it； and he was getting impatient； too； and harassed。
But at last he hit itjust by sheer inspiration； as it seemed to him
and all their troubles were gone in a moment； they would celebrate
the Discovery of America。 A splendid idea！
Aleck was almost too proud of Sally for wordsshe said SHE never would
have thought of it。 But Sally； although he was bursting with delight
in the compliment and with wonder at himself； tried not to let on；
and said it wasn't really anything； anybody could have done it。
Whereat Aleck； with a prideful toss of her happy head； said：
〃Oh； certainly！ Anybody couldoh； anybody！ Hosannah Dilkins；
for instance！ Or maybe Adelbert Peanutoh； DEARyes！ Well； I'd like
to see them try it； that's all。 Dear…me…suz； if they could think
of the discovery of a forty…acre island it's more than _I_ believe
they could； and as for the whole continent； why； Sally Foster；
you know perfectly well it would strain the livers and lights
out of them and THEN they couldn't！〃
The dear woman； she knew he had talent； and if affection made
her over…estimate the size of it a little； surely it was a sweet
and gentle crime； and forgivable for its source's sake。
CHAPTER V
The celebration went off well。 The friends were all present；
both the young and the old。 Among the young were Flossie and
Gracie Peanut and their brother Adelbert； who was a rising young
journeyman tinner； also Hosannah Dilkins； Jr。； journeyman plasterer；
just out of his apprenticeship。 For many months Adelbert and Hosannah
had been showing interest in Gwendolen and Clytemnestra Foster；
and the parents of the girls had noticed this with private satisfaction。
But they suddenly realized now that that feeling had passed。
They recognized that the changed financial conditions had raised
up a social bar between their daughters and the young mechanics。
The daughters could now look higherand must。 Yes； must。 They need
marry nothing below the grade of lawyer or merchant； poppa and momma
would take care of this； there must be no m'esalliances。
However； these thinkings and projects of their were private；
and did not show on the surface； and therefore threw no shadow
upon the celebration。 What showed upon the surface was a serene
and lofty contentment and a dignity of carriage and gravity of
deportment which compelled the admiration and likewise the wonder
of the company。 All noticed it and all commented upon it； but none
was able to divine the secret of it。 It was a marvel and a mystery。
Three several persons remarked； without suspecting what clever
shots they were making：
〃It's as if they'd come into property。〃
That was just it； indeed。
Most mothers would have taken hold of the matrimonial matter in the
old regulation way； they would have given the girls a talking to；
of a solemn sort and untactfula lecture calculated to defeat its
own purpose； by producing tears and secret rebellion； and the said
mothers would have further damaged the business by requesting
the young mechanics to discontinue their attentions。 But this
mother was different。 She was practical。 She said nothing to any
of the young people concerned； nor to any one else except Sally。
He listened to her and understood； understood and admired。
He said：
〃I get the idea。 Instead of finding fault with the samples on view；
thus hurting feelings and obstructing trade without occasion；
you merely offer a higher class of goods for the money； and leave
nature to take her course。 It's wisdom； Aleck； solid wisdom；
and sound as a nut。 Who's your fish？ Have you nominated him yet？〃
No； she hadn't。 They must look the market overwhich they did。
To start with； they considered and discussed Brandish； rising young
lawyer； and Fulton； rising young dentist。 Sally must invite them
to dinner。 But not right away； there was no hurry； Aleck said。
Keep an eye on the pair； and wait； nothing would be lost by going
slowly in so important a matter。
It turned out that this was wisdom； too； for inside of three
weeks Aleck made a wonderful strike which swelled her imaginary
hundred thousand to four hundred thousand of the same quality。
She and Sally were in the clouds that evening。 For the first
time they introduced champagne at dinner。 Not real champagne；
but plenty real enough for the amount of imagination expended on it。
It was Sally that did it； and Aleck weakly submitted。 At bottom both
were troubled and ashamed； for he was a high…up Son of Temperance；
and at funerals wore an apron which no dog could look upon and retain
his reason and