Brother Soulsby, like the intelligent creature he was, ate his breakfast in peace; but Alice would interpose remarks from time to time.Theron was conscious of a certain annoyance at this, and knew that he was showing it by an exaggerated display of interest in everything Sister Soulsby said, and persisted in it.There trembled in the background of his thoughts ever and again the recollection of a grievance against his wife--an offence which she had committed--but he put it aside as something to be grappled and dealt with when he felt again like taking up the serious and disagreeable things of life.
For the moment, he desired only to be amused by Sister Soulsby.
Her casual mention of the fact that she and her husband were taking their departure that very day, appealed to him as an added reason for devoting his entire attention to her.
"You mustn't forget that famous talking-to you threatened me with--that 'regular hoeing-over,' you know," he reminded her, when he found himself alone with her after breakfast.
He smiled as he spoke, in frank enjoyment of the prospect.
Sister Soulsby nodded, and aided with a roll of her eyes the effect of mock-menace in her uplifted forefinger.
"Oh, never fear," she cried."You'll catch it hot and strong.
But that'll keep till afternoon.Tell me, do you feel strong enough to go in next door and attend the trustees'
meeting this forenoon? It's rather important that you should be there, if you can spur yourself up to it.
By the way, you haven't asked what happened at the Quarterly Conference yesterday."Theron sighed, and made a little grimace of repugnance.
"If you knew how little I cared!" he said."I did hope you'd forget all about mentioning that--and everything else connected with--the next door.You talk so much more interestingly about other things.""Here's gratitude for you!" exclaimed Sister Soulsby, with a gay simulation of despair."Why, man alive, do you know what I've done for you? I got around on the Presiding Elder's blind side, I captured old Pierce, I wound Winch right around my little finger, I worked two or three of the class-leaders--all on your account.
The result was you went through as if you'd had your ears pinned back, and been greased all over.You've got an extra hundred dollars added to your salary; do you hear?
On the sixth question of the order of business the Elder ruled that the recommendation of the last conference's estimating committee could be revised (between ourselves he was wrong, but that doesn't matter) , and so you're in clover.
And very friendly things were said about you, too.""It was very kind of you," said Theron."I am really extremely grateful to you." He shook her by the hand to make up for what he realized to be a lack of fervor in his tones.
"Well, then," Sister Soulsby replied, "you pull yourself together, and take your place as chairman of the trustees' meeting, and see to it that, whatever comes up, you side with old Pierce and Winch.""Oh, THEY'RE my friends now, are they?" asked Theron, with a faint play of irony about his lips.
"Yes, that's your ticket this election," she answered briskly, "and mind you vote it straight.Don't bother about reasons now.Just take it from me, as the song says, 'that things have changed since Willie died.' That's all.
And then come back here, and this afternoon we'll have a good old-fashioned jaw."The Rev.Mr.Ware, walking with ostentatious feebleness, and forcing a conventional smile upon his wan face, duly made his unexpected appearance at the trustees'
meeting in one of the smaller classrooms.He received their congratulations gravely, and shook hands with all three.
It required an effort to do this impartially, because, upon sight of Levi Gorringe, there rose up suddenly within him an emotion of fierce dislike and enmity.
In some enigmatic way his thoughts had kept themselves away from Gorringe ever since Sunday evening.Now they concentrated with furious energy and swiftness upon him.
Theron seemed able in a flash of time to coordinate many recollections of Gorringe--the early liking Alice had professed for him, the mystery of those purchased plants in her garden, the story of the girl he had lost in church, his offer to lend him money, the way in which he had sat beside Alice at the love-feast and followed her to the altar-rail in the evening.
These raced abreast through the young minister's brain, yet with each its own image, and its relation to the others clearly defined.
