XI

rribleanxietyinhereyes.Herworstfearswerefulfilledwhenthevicar'swifefoldeditupandsaiddecidedly,"ForthepresentIshalltakecareofitforyou.Youcannotlieherewithsomuchmoneylooseabouttheplace.Why,ifitgotroundthevillageyoumighthavesomeoneinwho'dmurderyou.Peoplehavebeenmurderedbeforenowforlessthanthis.Ishallspeaktothevicaraboutit."Andsheputitinherpurse,shutitwithasnap,andtookuptheBibleagain. Mrs.Jonesmadealittlesoundbetweenagaspandasob.Herheadrolledbackonthepillow,andtwotearsdroppedhelplesslydownthefurrowsofherface.Inthatmomentshefeltthewholecrushingmiseryofbeingweak,andsick,andold,—sooldthatyouhaveoutlivedyourclaimstoeverythingbutthedespoticcareofcharitableladies,sooldthatyouareamerehurdy-gurdy,expectedeachtimeanyoneinsearchofedificationchoosestoturnyourhandletoquaverouttunesofimmortality.Itisabadthingtobeveryold.Ofallthebadthingslifeforcesuponusaswepassalongitisthelastandworst—thebitternessatthebottomofthecup,thedregsofwhatformanywasafterallalwaysonlymedicine.Mrs.Joneshadjustenoughofthestrengthoffearlefttokeepquitestillwhilethevicar'swifereadtheGospelinavoicethatangermadeharshbutwhenshehadgone,afterapartingadmonitionandadreadfulassurancethatshewouldcomeagainsoon,thetearsrolleduncheckedandpiteous,anditwasamercythatPriscillaalsotookitintoherheadtolookinonherwaytochurch,forifshehadnotIdon'tknowwhowouldhavedriedthemforthispoorbabyofeighty-five.AndIregrettosaythatPriscilla'sideasofdoinggoodwereinsuchastateofcrudenessthatshehadnosoonermasteredthefactsbrokenlysobbedoutthansherantothecupboardandgaveMrs.Jonesatablespoonfulofrumforthestrengtheningofherbodyandthentookoutherpurseandgaveheranotherfive-poundnoteforthecomfortingofhersoul.Andthenshewipedhereyes,andpattedher,andbeggedhernottomind.Suchconductwas,Isuppose,whatiscalledindiscriminatecharityandthereforeblameworthy,butitseffectwasgreat.Priscillawenttochurchwiththereflectionoftheoldlady'swonderandjoyshininginherownface."Hideit,"hadbeenherlastwordsatthedoor,herfingeronherlips,herheadnoddingexpressivelyinthedirectionofthevicarageandbythisadvicesherangedherselfonceandforallontheoppositesidetoMrs.Morrisonandthefollowersofobedienceandorder.Mrs.Joneswouldcertainlyhavetakenherforanangelworkingmiracleswithfive-poundnotesandaninexhaustiblepocketifithadnotbeenfortherumeveninherraptureshedidfeelthatagenuineangelwouldbeincapableofanyreallyharmoniouscombinationwithrum.Butsofarhadshefallenfromthekindofthinkingthatthevicar'swifethoughtproperinapersonsonearherendthatsheboldlytoldherselfshepreferredPriscilla. NowthiswasthedayofPriscilla'schildren'sparty,andthoughallSymfordhadbeentalkingofitfortwenty-fourhoursthenewsofithadnotyetreachedMrs.Morrison'sears.ThereasonwasthatSymfordtalkedinwhispers,onlytoosurethattheauthoritieswouldconsideritwrongforittosenditschildrena-merrymakingonaSunday,anddesperatelyafraidlesttheforbiddencupshouldbesnatchedfromitslonginglips.ButthenewsdidgettoMrs.Morrison'sears,anditgottothemintheporchofthechurchasshewaspassingintoprayer.Shehaditfromanovergrowngirlwhowaswaitingoutsideforherfather,andwhowasreallymuchtoobigforch