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Horatio arose, flushed and excited. "Where are you going?" I demanded. "I'll tell you soon. Let me pass." He left the theatre. I did not see him again until the play was over. He made his way to the orchestra box where I sat, in time to applaud Miss Kellerton's final appearance before the curtain. Then he grasped my arm. "Come with me; they are going!" He indicated Pendlam's party.
"But never despair," I added, "The future depends upon you." "What can I do?" she pleaded. "Remain firm in principle, dear Susan. Whatever happens, stand true to him and to yourself. Do that, and all will be well." The crying of her child, which was sick, called her away. I sought Pendlam's study. I found him busily writing.
The services over, the young clergyman made his way to us through the crowd. "I have so much wished to see you!" he exclaimed, grasping my hand. "You were a little astonished at my sermon." "And a good deal pleased," I added. Pendlam's delicate and changing features colored finely. "You think I have altered my views, I see by your smile. Not at all, except that I have gone farther."
Many of the thoughts which I had advanced in our private conversations, and which he had opposed, were reproduced, but very slightly modified, in his discourse. "Pendlam is enlarging," whispered Horatio. "The very things you said to him the first time you met!" I was gratified by the fact, and gratified that Horatio observed it; regarding it as evidence of Pendlam's emancipation from his chains.
In the street, I recalled the room, the drawings, the inscriptions, all so tragical and saddening! I had not proceeded far, when, moved by greater compassion, I turned and retraced my steps. At the door of the house, I saw the servant girl who had admitted me coming out with a bottle, and thought it the same I had seen lying empty under Pendlam's table. I followed her into a grocery on the corner.
I departed, wearied and disheartened with her sad, despairing face haunting me. I had little further personal knowledge of Pendlam's career, until Horatio came for me, one evening, to attend a meeting of the Disciples of Freedom. We found the Melodeon crowded by one of those stifling audiences for which no ventilation seems availing. A portion had come to be interested, a portion to be amused.
They have done my soul good, sir!" Her gratitude and piety were quite affecting. Tears gushed into Pendlam's eyes. The deacon turned away with a smirk and an ominous shake of the head. Horatio had found Susan. Pendlam took my arm, and we walked out of the church. The crowd pressed on before us; and as we reached the vestibule, we overheard suppressed voices the merits of the sermon.
I was there, and glad to hear it. But I was enraged. I could have wrung John Henry Pendlam's neck for him, when he said, with his quiet, charitable, mild, incredulous smile, that he was already aware there existed in the community a good deal of prejudice against Clodman!" Matters were now progressing rapidly to a crisis.
Horatio!" gasped Pendlam, a good deal startled. "Too late to escape!" And Horatio drew a tract upon him, like a revolver. "Here is something, sir, which I think will suit your case," levelling it at Pendlam's throat. "Ha!" stammered Pendlam, reading the title, "'The Theatre a Stronghold of Vice; a Sermon, by " "By the Reverend John Henry Pendlam," roared out Horatio.
"I am sorry to say she has gone with that rascal Clodman, who is travelling on business for the Association. Pendlam remains at home, hard at work on his book. I will now add what I did not wish you to know," said Horatio. "For some months Pendlam's family subsisted almost entirely upon funds advanced him by that rascal Clodman. They talk of his wonderful generosity!
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