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reached into his pocket and counted out a handful of coins, then shoved them across the table to her. “This is yours, by the way.”
    â€œMine? You mean for housekeeping?” She was taken aback by what a small pile it was. She would have to be very careful indeed to stretch this over a whole week. Maybe a chicken dinner wasn’t possible after all.
    â€œNo. I’ll give you the housekeeping money after I go to the bank. This is yours, personally. It’s from a wedding. Wedding money goes to the preacher’s wife, except in this case it goes to the preacher’s granddaughter.”
    She was astonished. “Mine? Mine for whatever I want?”
    â€œYours for whatever you want,” he said.
    And suddenly the pile of coins that had seemed so small a moment before became riches beyond belief. Martha had never had any money of her own, other than a few pennies given to her here and there for candy or ribbons. She scarcely knew what she could buy. She would take some time to think about it, she decided. It would be foolish to spend it just for the sake of spending it, when there might be something she truly wanted later. In the meantime, she could revel in the fact that she had it at all.
    The next morning, after breakfast, Thaddeus fetched down his coat and gave it a thorough brushing, then carefully wiped the mud from his boots. He looked at Martha a little sheepishly. “I don’t want anyone to wonder what such a pretty girl is doing with such a seedy old coot,” he said.
    She laughed. “Oh go on, you’re so handsome, everyone will think you’re my beau, of course.”
    The sun shone down brightly as they walked into the heart of the bustling town. Cobourg’s prosperity had grown from the long wharves that formed a safe harbour for the ships and schooners that sailed across and along Lake Ontario, carrying passengers and freight of all descriptions, from the wheat that grew on the upland plains to timber drawn from the back country, as well as the output from the woollen mills and the town’s small manufactories. Tradespeople of all descriptions had found a good living in Cobourg, and an astounding collection of businesses maintained shopfronts on King Street, the main thoroughfare of the town. There were several grocers and provisioners, dry goods stores and tailors, and even a bookseller who offered a large selection of reading materials, both books and periodicals as well as stationery supplies.
    But the temperament of Cobourg was really set by Victoria College. Founded by the Wesleyans as an unofficial seminary, the college’s activities spilled over into the town, and its debates, lectures, and celebrations were enthusiastically attended by local residents. The streets were often full of the young men from the college, who enlivened the other­wise staid demeanour of Cobourg with their lively pursuits. Martha found the bustle very different from the sleepy village atmosphere she was used to.
    â€œHow many people live in Cobourg?” she asked as they walked along.
    â€œOh, I should think maybe five thousand,” Thaddeus said. “But I’m not sure how many of them are students.”
    Even so early in the morning, they encountered a few groups of boys who were running errands in town. As they walked by Axtell’s Bookstore, three young men spilled out in front of them onto the plank sidewalk. Thaddeus and Martha had to step aside into the street to avoid them. Rather than apologize, they stopped in the middle of the walk and looked Martha up and down in a very insolent way as she walked by. She responded with a stony indifference. Thaddeus scowled at them.
    â€œYou could sour milk with a look like that,” Martha remarked.
    â€œThey were very rude. They were staring at you.”
    â€œLet them stare, I don’t care.” And then she squeezed his arm. “Don’t worry. If they get too bold, I’ll let them have