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But the old residents love to talk of the days that are gone and if you happen to catch Mr. Isaac Higgins, now postmaster and a dignified member of the board of selectmen, in a reminiscent mood he will very likely tell you of the meeting of the parish committee called by its chairman, Elkanah Daniels, to oust the Rev. John Ellery from the pulpit of the Regular church.
But Ellery knew and she knew he knew, so the affection and mutual esteem between the two deepened. He called her "Aunt Keziah" at her request and she continued to call him "John." This was in private, of course; in public he was "Mr. Ellery" and she "Mrs. Coffin." In his walks about town he saw nothing of Grace. She and Mrs.
"So you think that though you may not snatch her bodily, you may make her wish to be with you instead of with him, and that the wish will lie fallow in her heart. Dick, you are a student of human nature," Ellery said, half amused, half irritated. "I dare say he is a gentleman at heart. Oafs always are."
And a little laugh from his companion did not tend to soothe his feelings. "Thank you," he said. "Perhaps it is funny. I did not find it so. Good evening." This was priggish, but it must be borne in mind that John Ellery was very, very fresh from the theological school, where young divines are taught to take themselves seriously.
I will!" "No, no. He wouldn't listen. And think of your own congregation." "Confound my congregation!" "Why, Mr. Ellery!" She looked at him in amazement; then her lips began to curl. "Why, Mr. Ellery!" she repeated. The minister turned very red and drew his hand across his forehead. "I I don't mean that exactly," he stammered. "But I'm not a child. I have the right to exercise a man's discretion.
Or you might unload it onto me and let me prescribe. I've had consider'ble experience in that kind of doctorin'." But the answer was unsatisfactory. Mr. Ellery laughed, changed the subject, and wandered out into the garden, where Keziah saw him, shortly afterwards, intently regarding nothing in particular with a rapt stare.
Ellery watched the light tendril of hair that touched her cheek, lifted itself and touched again, near that lovely curve above her ear. The cheek was warm and creamy but untouched by deeper color. He fell into that mood of blessed silence that, as a rule, comes only when one is solitary.
We've got to get this poor fellow out of here as soon as we can or he'll die before to-morrow. Mr. Ellery," he added sharply, "what made you do this? Don't you realize the risk you've run?" "Some one had to do it. You are running the same risk." "Not just the same, and, besides, it's my business. Why didn't you let some one else, some one we could spare Humph!
I've often wondered," Ellery said as he jumped ashore and Dick began tossing him rugs and cushions. "Very comfy, thank you, and not at all un-Christian," she answered saucily. "Dick, don't throw the supper basket, under penalty of liquidating the sandwiches. I think there's a freezer of ice-cream under the deck, if you'll pull it out. Now, are you ready for me?"
When it was over, before the benediction was pronounced, Ellery stepped out from behind the pulpit to the edge of the platform. He looked over the friendly faces upturned to his and, for an instant, it seemed that he could not trust himself to speak. "My friends," he said, "I cannot let you go without a personal word.
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