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"I guess we'd most given you up," said the mistress of the house, coming out of her corner now. "I don't know what reason you had to expect me! Nobody asked me to come." "We're real glad to see you. Take a chair," said Mrs. Starling, setting one for his acceptance as she spoke. "Mr. Hardenburgh allays used to come to our little meetin's," said Mrs. Mansfield. "Thank you!
Hardenburgh had been heavy and slow; kind, of course, but stiff; you knew just what he would do and how he would speak beforehand. There was a delightful freshness and uncertainty about this man.
Mansfield; "why do the days be so much longer in summer than in winter? I asked Mr. Hardenburgh once, but I couldn't make out nothin' from what he told me?" Sly looks and suppressed laughter went round the room, for some of Mrs. Mansfield's neighbours were better informed than she in all that lay above the level of practical farming; but Mr.
"Since they must come, we may as well make 'em welcome; and they won't think it, if you meet 'em in your kitchen dress. Is the new minister comin', do you s'pose?" "I don't know if anybody has told him." "Somebody had ought to. It won't be much of a meetin' without the minister; and it 'ud give him a good chance to get acquainted. Mr. Hardenburgh used to like to come."
You can understand now what was in Paul's mind, and what a great word it was, when he said to the Ephesian elders, 'I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. He had done his whole duty in that place!" "I never felt that old Mr. Hardenburgh warned us against anything," Diana remarked. "Did I?" "You began to make me uncomfortable almost as soon as you came."
"I was afraid I should be late," he went on, looking at his watch, "but the roads are good. How far do you call it from Elmfield?" "All of five miles," said Mrs. Starling. "Yes; and one hill to cross. Well! I came pretty well. The long June afternoon favoured me." "Mr. Hardenburgh used to drive a buggy," remarked Miss Barry. "Yes. Is that one of the things you would like me to do as he did?"
Hardenburgh, each lady remembered, used to make the circuit of the company, giving every one a several clasp of the hand and an individual word of civility. Here was a change! The new minister came into the midst of them and stood still, with a bright look and a cheery "Good afternoon!" It was full of good cheer and genial greeting; but what lady could respond to it?
Hardenburgh, you see; and Mr. Hardenburgh was the minister afore him." "What was the difference?" "Well Mr. Hardenburgh, you could tell he was a minister as fur as you could see him; he had that look. Now Mr. Masters hain't; he's just like other folks; only he's more pleasant than most." "Oh, he is more pleasant, is he?" "Well, seems to me he is," said the little old lady.
In one way he is gay; he is very pleasant; not stiff or grum, like Mr. Hardenburgh; and he is amusing too, in a quiet way, but he is amusing; he is so cool and so quick. O no, he's not gay in the way you mean. I guess he's good." "Do you like him?" Mrs. Bartlett asked. "Yes," said Diana, thinking of the night of Eliza Delamater's accident. "He is very queer."
Mrs. Bell told how the family of Mr. Hardenburgh had got away on their journey to their new place of abode. "I always liked Mr. Hardenburgh," said Mrs. Carpenter. "He had a real good wife," remarked Miss Gunn, the storekeeper's sister, "and that goes a great way. Mrs. Hardenburgh was a right-down good woman." "But you was speakin' o' Mr. Hardenburgh, the dominie," said Mrs. Salter.
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