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"I think that things will be different in Rixton after this." For two days there was intense excitement throughout the entire parish of Rixton. The one great topic of conversation was the punishment Ben Stubbles had received. There was considerable anxiety as well, for those who had taken part in the affair fully expected that Simon Stubbles would hit back hard.
"I can't exactly say. But no clergyman has been able to hold his own there for years. It may have been their fault, and perhaps if the right man goes to the parish, things might be all right. I wish to goodness you were going anywhere else than to Rixton. I wonder what the Bishop is thinking about to send you to that place."
Why not take a holiday? You certainly need it, if any one does." "I have asked for two months. I told the Bishop this afternoon that only on that understanding would I take charge of Rixton." "But you have just told me that you are going there to-morrow!" Garton exclaimed. Douglas laughed.
"Well, what is your decision as to the Stubbles' affair?" the latter asked. "I suppose you have it all cut and dried." "Not altogether," was the reply. "I spent much of the night thinking it over, but am not fully decided yet. But there is one thing I would like you to do." "What is that?" "Come to Rixton and let us both meet Stubbles and have it out with him. What do you think of the idea?"
Where had she learned to play in such a manner? he asked himself. He was surprised that Rixton could produce such a musician. Was she engaged to that young man? he wondered, and, if so, what was the cause of her strange behaviour when they met?
It was the nearest he had come to giving himself away since he had been at Rixton, and he determined to be more cautious in the future. Mrs. Jukes insisted that Nell should remain for supper. "I would have had it ready now," she told her, "if I hadn't spent so much time at the window. But I guess it was worth it. I won't be long, anyway, and Jake has not come from the field yet."
"So that's the way you treat your friends, is it!" her husband bantered. "Oh, I don't mean that, Charles," she protested. "But I never saw Mr. Stanton dressed that way before." "No wonder you wouldn't recognise me," Douglas smilingly replied. "It is a splendid disguise at times. Even Dr. Rannage didn't know me when he came to Rixton." "What, were you at that meeting?" Garton asked.
She knew that Douglas was explaining his reasons for coming to Rixton in disguise, and he explained them well. But her mind wandered, and she thought of many things which had happened during the past weeks and which at the time had puzzled her. But now she saw them in a different light. Her attention was arrested as Douglas began to tell why he was not coming to the parish as rector.
He had gone with the clever lawyer at a break-neck speed, so it was said, and had not returned. But after two days the people of Rixton had something else to talk about. It was the grim spectre of war which had suddenly appeared, and sent a chill to every heart.
This is a letter I received to-day telling me about it. I invested largely in that concern, and so am greatly interested." Douglas made no reply to this most gratifying information. His mind had gone back to Rixton and the little cottage by the river-side. He pictured to himself the expression upon Nell's face and the look of joy in her eyes when she heard the good news.
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