Even Mrs. Fraser, the hypochondriac, was pleased with him in a mournful sort of way. Of course, she was somewhat alarmed when Miss Cotton declared that the minister was "jist a terror to cut up and could play 'Dan Tucker' better than Sandy Neil himself." But Annie Fraser explained that Mr. Egerton had done it just to show that he wasn't stiff or "stuck up."
This phase of the matter was a relief to her mother. Mrs. Fraser was a person to whom the world and everything in it was one series of ever-recurring disaster. She was a doleful body, taking pleasure only in funerals and the laying out of the dead. With her peculiar5 taste for sorrow and distress6, she had come to be self-appointed nurse to the whole neighbourhood. She was always due at the house of affliction and, with her kindly7 heart and a certain skill in nursing, she proved a sort of melancholy8 blessing9. Her predilection10 for disaster caused her to be regarded as a bird of ill-omen, for where Mrs. Fraser was, there would calamities11 be gathered together, and to see her issue from the big gate on the brow of the south hill with her ominous-looking black bag was sufficient to raise apprehension12 in every heart. Indeed, Mrs. Duffy, who lived nearly opposite the Frasers and who regarded the village nurse with something akin4 to superstitious13 fear, would throw up her hands at the sight of the herald14 of misfortune passing the door and exclaim, "God bless me sowl, who's dead now?"
So if Mrs. Fraser was willing to look hopefully on the actions of the new minister, the rest of the congregation might feel themselves secure. But he was not long in showing that he could be quite as energetic in his church affairs as in playing "Dan Tucker."
He plunged15 into the work with a vim16 and ardour which commanded the admiration of a thrifty17 and hard-working people.
The young folk were no longer the drones in the hive; he had not been among them a month before he had stirred them all up to an activity and interest in church affairs they had never dreamed of before.
He organised a Young People's Society of Christian18 Endeavour and, with the help of Mr. Watson, a Young Men's Christian Association. He joined the Sons of Temperance and infused new life into that organisation19. He even went so far as to get the older women out of their homes and before they knew what they were doing they had formed a Ladies' Aid Society and were making plans to carpet and decorate the church.
Miss Cotton was the president of this latter organisation and worked up the interest to such a pitch that even Mrs. Neil More went to one of the meetings, and Archie set fire to the house while she was absent, probably feeling that as the established order of the universe had been completely overturned, the total destruction of all material things should naturally follow.
The Methodists were incited20 to emulation21 by all this activity and Sim Basketful started an Epworth League. Then Mr. Egerton, in his free-hearted way, proposed that the two societies join and hold alternate meetings in the two churches, a suggestion which met with hearty22 approval and raised the young minister to the status of a saint in the eyes of Mr. Ansdell.
He soon established himself on friendly terms with "the boys" who met at the corner in the evenings. He entered into all their sports. Whether it was throwing quoits in the middle of the road, playing foot-ball in the river pastures below the mill, swimming in the milldam or walking the logs on the pond, he was the leader. He was a favourite with all classes. Mr. Watson, who was rumoured23 to have loose notions on religion, was his constant companion. Syl Todd, the village dandy, worshipped him, and Pat Duffy, who was rather a liberal-minded Catholic, declared him "a blazin' fine chap" and gave as his opinion that it was "a relief to see a parson that didn't look scared when a fellow swore a little"—which indulgence was a conversational24 necessity to Mr. Duffy.
The Glen grew livelier every day and the meetings at the Hamiltons' larger and more frequent. John Egerton fell into the habit of dropping in there very often. The whole family were most hospitable25 and Miss Jessie was very charming. He saw from the first that she and young Neil were avowed26 sweethearts. Mrs. McNabb informed him that Jessie and Donald had been lovers ever since the day at school when he had thrashed Pat Duffy for taking a forcible and liberal bite out of her one apple. The young minister assured himself that he was very much interested in the pretty rural romance and wrote an account of it to Helen.
But, though he admired the village belle27, he could not bring himself to have any warmth of feeling for Donald. He met him almost every evening either at the Hamiltons' or down at the corner and, while he could find no fault in the young man's conduct, he never quite forgave the prank28 he had played and did not unbend to him as he did to the others. Donald's honest heart was filled with remorse29 for the mischief30 he had unwittingly caused and in his straightforward31 fashion he went to the minister to make an explanation and, if need be, offer an apology. But his friendly advances were met with such cold politeness on the part of his pastor that the apology died on Donald's lips. Instead, he made matters worse by referring to the disagreeable incident and from that time forward relations between him and the minister were somewhat strained.
They were not improved by an incident that occurred shortly. One afternoon Duncan Polite sent his nephew on an errand to some relatives who lived down by Lake Simcoe and he was not able to return until the next morning. Mr. Egerton noticed, with a feeling of relief, that he was absent from the Epworth League that evening and at the close of the meeting the thought struck him that there would surely be no harm in his walking down the hill with Jessie Hamilton. He had no sooner thought of it than his mind was made up and after the close of the meeting he found himself, somewhat to his amusement, standing32 with the crowd of young men who waited, at the gate, the coming of their respective chosen.
The young ladies crowded out, some hurriedly and anxiously, others, sure of their power, with provoking leisureliness33. The Hamilton girls were among the last. Wee Andra seized Bella and disappeared into the darkness as suddenly as if they had been engulfed34 in oblivion. Sarah followed, very disgusted at being accompanied by Peter McNabb, Junior, who worked in his father's blacksmith shop and did not even know that there were such things in existence as Euclid and Algebra35. Jessie came next; John Egerton stepped out from the ranks and raised his hat. "And may I have the pleasure of walking down the hill with you, Miss Jessie?" he asked, and the girl, murmuring some faint, shy words of consent, they walked side by side down the leafy path where the moonbeams through the trees made flecks36 of light upon her white dress.
The few stragglers still standing at the gate noticed the little scene and many were the comments upon what would likely transpire37 if the minister took to "keeping company with Don Neil's girl."
There was one who had noted38 the affair with perfect approval. Sylvanus Todd had long worshipped Maggie Hamilton from afar with absolutely no success; but so far from being disheartened by continuous rebuffs, he only seemed to increase in ardour under them. He adored Mr. Egerton's elegant ease and tried to copy it upon all occasions. His manner of addressing Jessie he considered irresistible39 and felt sure it would not fail with even so hardhearted a divinity as was his. Maggie was just emerging from the church, talking and laughing in a way that would have scandalised old Andrew Johnstone, when Syl stepped forward to put his new formula to the test. Raising his hat in precise imitation of the young minister's easy grace, he said, in as near an approach to Mr. Egerton's deep, musical tone as he could manage, "And may I have the pleasure of walking down the hill with you, Miss Maggie?"
But the result was quite different. Maggie turned and stared at him in genuine consternation40. "Merciful gracious!" she screamed, "he's gone clean, stark41, staring crazy!"
Mr. Todd was about to reply with some dignity, when Allan Fraser, who followed the more expeditious42 if less elegant method of the ordinary young man of Glenoro and never asked permission, caught Maggie's arm and swept her unceremoniously from underneath43 Sylvanus' nose.
Meanwhile, John Egerton, strolling slowly down the leafy path at Jessie's side, was enjoying himself. This was the first time he had ever been alone with the girl and by tactful questions he found out more about her in their short walk than in all of their previous acquaintance. His discoveries were all pleasant. As he had surmised44, she was more serious than her sisters; she had read a little, too,—Dickens and Scott and some of Tennyson. They stood at the gate in the moonlight for a long time, talking of books. He found she had a thirst for them and he promised to lend her as many as she could read. It was late when at last he left her; the radiant moonlight, the heavy scent45 of the dewy garden, the soft rushing sound of the river and the slim, graceful46 girl beneath the wide oaks had made a combination which was intoxicating47. He did not describe this scene to Helen, however, as he had done so many others.
But of course Donald heard of it, and very soon. When Coonie came down with the mail the next morning, Syl Todd confided48 his troubles to the mail-carrier as he watered his horse. "Now, that there Allan Fraser ain't got no more manners than if he'd never been outside of Glenoro," he said in conclusion of his mournful recital49; "he don't know nothin' about how to treat a lady." Syl was the only young man in Glenoro who gave "the girls" the dignified50 title of "ladies."
"Always the way with them college chaps," agreed Coonie. "They think they're some punkins and they don't know enough to make cheese."
"That's true," assented51 Mr. Todd, warmed by this unwonted sympathy. "An' there's Don Neil; he's another that's been puttin' on airs, but I'll bet he'll quit now; mind you, Coonie, the minister went home with Jessie last night."
"You bet! Don'll be hoppin' when he hears it. All the fellows has been sayin' they bet Mr. Egerton would have liked to go with Jessie ever since he come here if Don didn't keep him shooed off. Wait till he goes back to college and the minister'll have his turn. Long's he don't go hangin' 'round Maggie, I won't bother him." And Mr. Todd put his head on one side and gazed sentimentally53 up the hill, a pose which was slightly damaged by old Bella throwing up her head and spattering him with water.
As Donald Neil came cantering homeward, he met the mail driver dropping down the Glenoro hills towards the Flats. "Hello, Coonie!" called the young man, "how's yourself to-day?"
Coonie pulled up his old horse, which stopped with as much difficulty as she started. He was very glad to meet Donald. "Oh, jist chawin' an' spittin'," he answered with suspicious cordiality. "What kind o' a new apostle's this you've got up here?"
"Who? Mr. Egerton? Oh! he's all right," said Donald, giving Bella a poke55 in the ribs56 with his whip. "Haven't you seen him?"
Coonie spat54 disapprovingly57. "Yes, you bet. Seen him this mornin' showin' off the soles o' his boots on Peter McNabb's veranda58 an' readin' novels. Soft snap them preacher fellows have. Nothin' in the world to do but run after the girls. Don't wonder that you're headin' that way yourself; guess Mr. Egerton thinks you're tryin' to get up to him in the religion business, so he'll race you in the sparkin' line. Haw! Haw!"
Donald looked down at him calmly. "Go on," he said quietly, "you've got something on your mind, Coonie, and you'll never be easy till it's off. I saw you were loaded when I was half a mile back; what's the trouble?"
Coonie did not enjoy this; Donald Neil was not the right sort of person to torment59. He took that sort of thing too indifferently and one was always left in the tantalising doubt as to whether he cared or not. Coonie did not believe in casting his pearls before swine, so he cracked his long whip with the usual admonitory inquiry60, "Gedap there! What're ye doin'?"
Bella gave her preliminary scramble61, stopped, tried again and slowly shambled off. But her driver could not resist turning in his teetering seat, as the dust began to rise, to shout back, "If I'd a girl I was as spooney over as you are, I'd keep an eye skinned for chaps as good lookin' as the parson. Haw! Haw!—Gedap!"
Donald rode off with a laugh, but his face became grave as he climbed the hill. A dark suspicion that the minister might some day be his rival had long been forming in his mind. Perhaps jealousy62 was the cause of his unforgiving spirit. He went to Wee Andra for an explanation of just what Coonie meant and his mind was not eased by it. He had never had a dangerous rival before and he was forced to confess that the minister was certainly a very captivating young man.
Duncan Polite had hoped that ere this his nephew and Mr. Egerton would have been firm friends. He wondered sadly over his failure to bring them together at his house. He wondered over other things, too. He regarded the revival63 of activity in the church with a heart of overflowing64 joy, but a joy tinged65 with a puzzled uncertainty66. He knew that the young people of the congregation were now taking a greater interest in religious matters than they had ever done, and yet he could not quite understand why it was that, though the boys went regularly to the meetings of the various organisations and were constant in their attendance at the weekly prayer-meeting, which they had formerly67 eschewed68, still they showed no consequent change of conduct. Sandy's fiddling69 and dancing went on uninterruptedly, parallel with his Christian Endeavour meetings. Wee Andra was even more irreverent than formerly and Donald showed no signs of an added desire to enter the ministry70. Donald's case was particularly disappointing. He wanted Donald to sit at his young pastor's feet and learn the lesson of true consecration71. He never dreamed that those two whom he desired to be fast friends were in great danger of becoming enemies, and that events were shaping themselves to widen the breach72 between them.
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1
dissenting
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| adj.不同意的 | |
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2
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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7
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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predilection
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| n.偏好 | |
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calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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15
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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16
vim
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| n.精力，活力 | |
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thrifty
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| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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organisation
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| n.组织，安排，团体，有机休 | |
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20
incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21
emulation
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| n.竞争；仿效 | |
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22
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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23
rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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conversational
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| adj.对话的，会话的 | |
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25
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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29
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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31
straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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32
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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leisureliness
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| n.悠然，从容 | |
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34
engulfed
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| v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
algebra
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| n.代数学 | |
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36
flecks
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| n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍 | |
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37
transpire
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| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
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38
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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39
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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40
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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41
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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42
expeditious
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| adj.迅速的，敏捷的 | |
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43
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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44
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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45
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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46
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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47
intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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48
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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49
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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50
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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51
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
copiously
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| adv.丰富地，充裕地 | |
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53
sentimentally
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| adv.富情感地 | |
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54
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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55
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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56
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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disapprovingly
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| adv.不以为然地，不赞成地，非难地 | |
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58
veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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59
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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60
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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61
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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62
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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63
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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64
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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65
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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67
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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68
eschewed
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| v.（尤指为道德或实际理由而）习惯性避开，回避( eschew的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
fiddling
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| 微小的 | |
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70
ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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71
consecration
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| n.供献，奉献，献祭仪式 | |
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72
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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