By every word out of the mouth of God, says the Book; and what shall He
say of you? I've watched for this, I've seen it coming. You keep long
accounts, but there's One keeps longer--and in His head, as we read. To
breaking mother's heart so much, to scandal of matrimony so much--and to
perjury and dirty devices, wicked dalliance, so much. When she came here--
this fine young lady, so fresh and sweet--I wailed. I shook my fist at
you, Mr. Ingram; 'I know what this means,' I said, 'a false tongue and a
young heart.' And I waited, I tell you--for I could do nothing else. She
could have come to me at any hour of any day and welcome; and I'd have
told her, 'He's bad--he's rotten at the heart. He'll tire of you--neglect
you--trick you--and cast you out.' But she was too proud for that; she
bore it all, and not a word. And she did your work as never before, not in
your time, nor your father's time; and made friends of the poor, and kept
her place--sweetly and smoothly it was done. And you on your travels with
foreign women--"
Ingram now emerged from the flood. "Are you mad?" he said. A dreadful calm
came over Mrs. Benson, succeeding the tempest.
"'I am not mad, most noble Festus,'" she said; "but I am mother of a
graceless son, and will not be cook to another.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199