"Who is this woman?" the preacher said hoa.r.s.ely.
"Sir--sir"--the elder cried, backing towards the door and raising his hands in front of him, "don"t look so,--don"t look so, sir!"
"Who?" demanded the other.
"I spoke fer the sake of Alfaretta"s soul, and fer the sake of them that"s heard her say them things about Tom Davis, provin" there wasn"t any punishment for sinners. Don"t look so, preacher!"
"Tell me her name!"
"Her name--her name? Oh, you know it, sir, you know it--it"s--your wife, preacher."
John Ward sprang at the cowering figure of the big elder, and clinched his trembling hands on the man"s shoulders, with an inarticulate cry.
"My wife!" he said, between his teeth. "How dare you speak her name!" He stopped, struggling for breath.
"My duty!" gasped the elder, trying to loosen the trembling fingers--"to her--an" you--an" the church you"ve starved and neglected, Brother Ward!"
John blenched. Mr. Dean saw his advantage. "You know your vows when you were ordained here six years ago: do you keep them? Do you feed your people with spiritual food, or will you neglect them for your wife"s sake, and let her example send the souls in your care to endless ruin?"
John had loosened his hold on the elder, and was leaning against the wall, his head bowed upon his breast and his hands knotted together. A pa.s.sion of horrified grief swept across his face; he seemed unconscious of the elder"s presence. Mr. Dean looked at him, not certain what to do or say; he had quite forgotten Alfaretta"s "notice." At last the preacher raised his head.
"You have said enough," he said, in a low voice; "now go," and he pointed with a shaking finger to the door. "Go!" he repeated.
The elder hesitated, then slowly put on his hat and stumbled from the room. John did not notice his outstretched hand, but followed him blindly to the door, and locked it after him.
The full blaze of sunshine flooded the room with its pitiless mirth; it was wilting the dish of violets, and he moved it to the shaded end of the table.
Alfaretta, peering out of her attic window, and wiping her eyes on the corner of the dimity curtain which hid her, saw the elder walk out of the parsonage and through the little gateway, with shame written on his drooping shoulders and in his hurried, shambling steps. He never once looked back.
CHAPTER XVII.
Almost before Elder Dean had left the threshold Helen stood at the bolted door. She turned the k.n.o.b gently while she knocked.
"John," she said anxiously,--"John, dear!" But there was no answer.
"John!" she said again, a thread of fear in her voice. "What is the matter? Are you ill, dearest? Please let me in!"
Only the rustle of the wind outside and the flickering shadows across the hall answered her. She shook the door slightly, and then listened. "John, John!" she called again, and as she heard a long breath inside the closed room she leaned against the wall, faint with a fright she had not realized. She heard a slow footstep upon the floor, that stopped on the other side of the door.
"Helen," her husband said, in a voice she scarcely knew, "I want to be alone. I am not ill, but I must be--undisturbed. Will you go away, please?"
"Let me in just one moment, darling," she pleaded, still nervously turning the k.n.o.b. "I won"t disturb you, but it terrifies me to be shut out in this way. Please let me just see you, and then I will go right away."
"No," he answered, "I cannot see you. I do not want to see you, Helen.
I must be alone just now."
"You are sure you are not ill?" she insisted.
"Quite sure."
"Well," she said reluctantly, "I"ll go, but call me just as soon as I can come, will you?"
"Yes," he answered, "but do not come until I do call you."
She heard him walk back to his study table, and then silence seemed to fall like a shadow on her heart. She was more bewildered than before.
John was in trouble, and she could not help him. Nevertheless, she did not speak again; she was one of those unusual women who are content to wait until the moment it is needed, to give their sympathy or tenderness.
So she went to her own room, and sat wistfully looking out at the sweet spring day; she could not read while this anxiety filled her mind, and her hands were idle in her lap. She did not even summon John to luncheon, knowing he would come if he saw fit; for herself, she could not eat. It was almost five, when she heard John push his chair back (she was sitting on the lowest step of the staircase, which ended at the study door, leaning her head against the frame), and again her ear caught the heavy, long-drawn sigh. Her suspense was to end.
She rose, her hands pressed hard together to check their trembling; she bit her lip lest she might speak and disturb him one moment before he was ready to hear her.
He pushed back the bolt, and slowly opened the door and looked at her.
All the words of love and anxiety died on her lips.
"John," she whispered,--"oh, my dear, what is it?"
He came out, and, putting his hands on her shoulders, looked down at her with terrible, unsmiling eyes. "Helen," he said, "I am grieved to have distressed you so, but it had to be. I had to be alone. I am in much trouble. No," laying his hand gently on her lips; "listen to me, dearest.
I am in great distress of soul; and just now, just for a few days, I must bear it alone."
Helen felt a momentary sense of relief. Distress of soul?--that meant some spiritual anxiety, and it had not the awfulness to her which a more tangible trouble, such as sickness, would have.
"What is it, John? Tell me," she said, looking at him with overflowing love, but without an understanding sympathy; it was more that feeling which belongs to strong women, of maternal tenderness for the men they love, quite apart from an intellectual appreciation of their trouble.
John shook his head. "I must bear it alone, Helen. Do not ask me what it is; I cannot tell you yet."
"You cannot tell me? Oh, John, your sorrow belongs to me; don"t shut me out; tell me, dear, and let me help you."
"You cannot help me," he answered wearily; "only trust me when I say it is best for me not to tell you now; you shall know all there is to know, later. Be patient just a few days,--until after the Sabbath. Oh, bear with me,--I am in great sorrow, Helen; help me with silence."
She put her arms around him, and in her caressing voice, with that deep note in it, she said, "It shall be just as you say, darling. I won"t ask you another question, but I"m ready to hear whenever you want to tell me."
He looked at her with haggard eyes, but did not answer. Then she drew him out into the fresh coolness of the garden, and tried to bring some brightness into his face by talking of small household happenings, and how she had missed him during his two weeks" absence, and what plans she had for the next week. But no smile touched his white lips, or banished the absent look in his eyes. After tea, during which his silence had not been broken, he turned to go into his study.
"Oh, you are not going to work to-night?" Helen cried. "Don"t leave me alone again!"
He looked at her with sudden wistfulness. "I--I must," he said, his voice so changed it gave her a shock of pain. "I must work on my sermon."
"I thought you had written it," she said; "and you are so tired--do wait until to-morrow."
"I am not going to use the sermon I prepared," he answered. "I have decided to preach more directly on foreign missions. You know I exchange with Mr. Grier, of Chester, on the Sabbath; and he will preach to our church on the att.i.tude of a.s.sembly towards missions. I had intended to give a more general sermon to his people, but--I have decided otherwise."
Helen was surprised at so long an explanation; John"s sermons were generally ignored by both, but for different reasons. She followed him into the study, and when she had lighted his lamp he kissed her, saying softly, "May G.o.d bless you, Helen," and then he shut her gently from the room.