第57章 IN WHICH KEZIAH BREAKS THE NEWS(2)

John,you've got to stay here with me.You can't go to that house.

You can't go to her.

Mrs.Coffin,what are you saying?Do you know--Have you--Yes,I know all about it.I know about the meetin's in the pines and all.Oh,why didn't you trust me and tell me?If you had,all would have been SO much better!He looked at her in utter amazement.The blood rushed to his face.

You know THAT?he whispered.

Yes,I know.

Did she tell--

No,nobody told.That is,only a little.I got a hint and Isuspicioned somethin'afore.The rest I saw with my own eyes.He was now white,but his jaw shot forward and his teeth closed.

If you do know,he said,you must realize that my place is with her.Now,when she is in trouble--Would you want to make that trouble greater?More than she could bear?I think I might help her to bear it.Mrs.Coffin,you have been my truest friend,but one,in Trumet.You HAVE been like a mother to me.But I have thought this out to the end and I shall go through with it.It is my affair--and hers.If my own mother were alive and spoke as you do,I should still go through with it.It is right,it is my life.I'm not ashamed of anything I've done.

I'm proud.I'm proud of her.And humble only when I think how unworthy I am to be her husband.I suppose you are fearful of what my congregation will say.Well,I've thought of that,too,and thought it through.Whatever they say and whatever they do will make no difference.Do you suppose I will let THEM keep me from her?Please open that door.He was very tragic and handsome--and young,as he stood there.The tears overflowed the housekeeper's eyes as she looked at him.If her own love story had not been broken off at its beginning,if she had not thrown her life away,she might have had a son like that.

She would have given all that the years had in store for her,given it gladly,to have been able to open the door and bid him go.But she was firm.

It ain't the congregation,John,she said.Nor Trumet,nor your ministry.That means more'n you think it does,now;but it ain't that.You mustn't go to her because--well,because she don't want you to.Doesn't want me?I know better.He laughed in supreme scorn.

She doesn't want you,John.She wouldn't see you if you went.

She would send you away again,sure,sartin sure.She would.And if you didn't go when she sent you,you wouldn't be the man I hope you are.John,you mustn't see Grace again.She ain't yours.She belongs to some one else.Some one else!He repeated the words in a whisper.Some one ELSE?Why,Mrs.Coffin,you must be crazy!If you expect me to--Hush!hush!I ain't crazy,though there's times when I wonder Iain't.John,you and Grace have known each other for a few months,that's all.You've been attracted to her because she was pretty and educated and--and sweet;and she's liked you because you were about the only young person who could understand her and--and all that.And so you've been meetin'and have come to believe--you have,anyway--that 'twas somethin'more than likin'.But you neither of you have stopped to think that a marriage between you two was as impossible as anything could be.And,besides,there's another man.A man she's known all her life and loved and respected--Stop,Mrs.Coffin!stop this wicked nonsense.I won't hear it.John,Grace Van Horne is goin'to marry Cap'n Nat Hammond.There!

that's the livin'truth.

In his absolute confidence and faith he had again started for the door.Now he wheeled and stared at her.She nodded solemnly.

It's the truth,she repeated.She and Nat are promised to each other.Cap'n Eben,on his deathbed,asked Dr.Parker and me to be witnesses to the engagement.Now you see why you mustn't go nigh her again.He did not answer.Instead,he stood silently staring.She stepped forward and laid a hand on his shoulder.

Set down,John,she said.Set down and let me tell you about it.Yes,yes,you must.If I tell you,you'll understand better.

There!there!don't you interrupt me yet and don't you look that way.Do set down.She led him over to the rocking-chair and gently forced him into it.He obeyed,although with no apparent realization of what he was doing.Still with her hand on his shoulder she went on speaking.She told him of her visit to the Hammond tavern,saying nothing of Mr.Pepper's call nor of her own experience in the grove.She told of Captain Eben's seizure,of what the doctor said,and of the old Come-Outer's return to consciousness.Then she described the scene in the sick room and how Nat and Grace had plighted troth.He listened,at first stunned and stolid,then with growing impatience.

So you see,she said.It's settled;they're engaged,and Dr.

Parker will tell everybody of the engagement this very mornin'.It wa'n't any great surprise to me.Those two have been brought up together;'twas the natural thing that was almost bound to happen.

Eben's heart was set on it for years.And she'll have a good husband,John,that I know.And she'll do her best to make him happy.He's a good man and--The minister sprang to his feet.

A good man!he cried furiously.A good man!One who will make use of a dying father to drive a girl into--Stand aside,Mrs.

Coffin!