She
was right. Strong uttered a desperate "Bah!" and began pacing up
and down the garden with reckless strides.
Mrs. Willoughby watched him with secret delight, and when he
came to a halt, she wriggled to his side with simpering
sweetness.
"What COULD folks say?" she asked. "A minister and a young
circus riding girl living here like this with no one to--" She
found no words at this point and Strong, now thoroughly roused,
declared that the congregation should have no further cause for
gossip, and went out quickly in search of Douglas.
When Strong was gone, Elverson looked at the set faces of the
women, and attempted a weak apology for the pastor. "I dare say
the young man was very lonely--very--before she came."
"Lonely?" snapped Miss Perkins. "Well, if HE was LONELY, _I_
didn't know it."
The deacon excused himself nervously, and went to join Strong.
The women gathered up their buntings, and retired with bland
smiles to the Sunday-school- room, feeling that they had
accomplished enough for the time being.
Strong and Elverson crossed the yard, still in search of the
pastor. They turned at the sound of fluttering leaves and beheld
Douglas, hatless, tearing down the path. Strong called to him,
but Douglas darted quickly behind the hedge.
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