"I'm so glad, Mr. Corkey."

It is the autumn of a great misery. The woman is righting herself.
She is trying to listen to the advice of society. Lockwin, by dying,
committed a crime against the first circles. "A failure to live is a
gigantic failure," says Mrs. Grundy.

David Lockwin listens to every movement. The widow tarries.

"Send me a dozen large bottles of that extract," she says, choosing a
variety of odors. She orders a munificent bill of fancy goods. The
clerk moves with astonishing celerity.

The patient suppresses his groans.

"Oh! Chalmers is well off," says Corkey.

"I'm glad," says Esther, "poor man! Good-bye, Mr. Corkey. You are
neglecting me lately. I hope you will be elected. I wish I could
vote. Oh, yes, I guess the clerk may give me a stock of white
notepaper. Do you believe it, Mr. Corkey, I haven't a scrap about the
house that isn't mourning paper! Yes, that will do. Send plenty.
Good-bye. Come over and tell me about politics. Tell me something
that will make life seem pleasant. I'm tired of my troubles. I think
I'm forgetting David. Good-bye."




BOOK IV