The
opportunity for copying Him more literally than she had ever done before
was granted to her, and her spirit sprang forward eagerly to seize it.
Mr. Chantrey sat silent, yet with a lighter heart than he had had for
months. He felt that if Ann Holland went out with them half his load
would be gone. There was a brighter hope for Sophy, and there would be a
sure friend for his boy, whatever his own fate might be. Yet he shrank
from accepting such a sacrifice, and could only see the selfishness of
doing so at the first moment.
"You must take another week to think of it," he said.
But when the week was ended Ann Holland was more confirmed in her wish
than before. The news that she was going out with Mr. Chantrey's family
caused as great a stir in the town as that of the rector's resignation.
The Hollands had always been saddlers in Upton, and all the true old
Upton people had faithfully adhered to them, never being tempted away by
interlopers from London or other places, who professed to do better work
at lower prices. To be sure the last male Holland was gone, but every
one knew that his only share in the business for many years had been the
spending of the money it brought in.
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