stories of a western town-第16章

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But　he　was　in　the　chancel　in　plain　view；　after　the　procession　of　choir…boys　had　taken　their　seats。　　He　was　an　elderly　man　with　thin　cheeks　and　a　large　nose。　　He　had　one　of　those　great；　orotund　voices　that　occasionally　roll　out　of　little　men；　and　he　read　the　service　with　a　misjudged　effort　to　fill　the　building。　The　building　happened　to　have　peculiarly　fine　acoustic　properties；　but　the　unfortunate　man　roared　like　him　of　Bashan。　There　was　nothing　of　the　customary　ecclesiastical　dignity　and　monotony　about　his　articulation；　indeed；　it　grew　plain　and　plainer　to　Harry　that　he　must　have　〃come　over〃　from　some　franker　and　more　emotional　denomination。　It　seemed　quite　out　of　keeping　with　his　homely　manner　and　crumpled　surplice　that　this　particular　reader　should　intone。　Intone；　nevertheless；　he　did；　and　as　badly　as　mortal　man　well　could！　It　was　not　so　much　that　his　voice　or　his　ear　went　wrong；　he　would　have　had　a　musical　voice　of　the　heavy　sort；　had　he　not　bellowed；　neither　did　his　ear　betray　him；　the　trouble　seemed　to　be　that　he　could　not　decide　when　to　begin；　now　he　began　too　early；　and　again；　with　a　startled　air；　he　began　too　late；　as　if　he　had　forgotten。　〃I　hope　he　will　not　preach；〃　thought　Harry；　who　was　absorbed　in　a　rapt　contemplation　of　his　sweetheart's　back　hair。　He　came　back　from　a　tender　revery　（by　way　of　a　little　detour　into　the　furniture　business　and　the　establishment　that　a　man　of　his　income　could　afford）　to　the　church　and　the　preacher　and　his　own　sins；　to　find　the　strange　clergyman　in　the　pulpit；　plainly　frightened；　and　bawling　more　loudly　than　ever　under　the　influence　of　fear。　He　preached　a　sermon　of　wearisome　platitudes；　making　up　for　lack　of　thought　by　repetition；　and　shouting　himself　red　in　the　face　to　express　earnestness。　　〃Fourth…class　Methodist　effort；〃　thought　the　listener　in　the　Lossing　pew；　stroking　his　fair　mustache；　〃with　Episcopal　decorations！　　That　man　used　to　be　a　Methodist　minister；　and　he　was　brought　into　the　fold　by　a　high…churchman。　Poor　fellow；　the　Methodist　church　polity　has　a　place　for　such　fellows　as　he；　but　he　is　a　stray　sheep　with　us。　　He　doesn't　half　catch　on　to　the　motions；　yet　I'll　warrant　he　is　proud　of　that　sermon；　and　his　wife　thinks　it　one　of　the　great　efforts　of　the　century。〃　Here　Harry　took　a　short　rest　from　the　sermon；　to　contemplate　the　amazing　moral　phenomenon：　　how　robust　can　be　a　wife's　faith　in　a　commonplace　husband！　〃Now；　this　man；〃　reflected　Harry；　growing　interested　in　his　own　fancies；　〃this　man　never　can　have　LIVED！　　He　doesn't　know　what　it　is　to　suffer；　he　has　only　vegetated！　　Doubtless；　in　a　prosaic　way；　he　loves　his　wife　and　children；　but　can　a　fellow　who　talks　like　him　have　any　delicate　sympathies　or　any　romance　about　him？　He　looks　honest；　I　think　he　is　a　right　good　fellow　and　works　like　a　soldier；　but　to　be　so　stupid　as　he　is；　ought　to　HURT！〃　Harry　felt　a　whimsical　moving　of　sympathy　towards　the　preacher。　He　wondered　why　he　continually　made　gestures　with　the　left　arm；　never　with　his　right。　〃It　gives　a　one…sided　effect　to　his　eloquence；〃　said　he。　But　he　thought　that　he　understood　when　an　unguarded　movement　revealed　a　rent　which　had　been　a　mended　place　in　the　surplice。　〃Poor　fellow；〃　said　Harry。　　He　recalled　how；　as　a　boy；　he　had　gone　to　a　fancy…dress　ball　in　Continental　smallclothes；　so　small　that　he　had　been　strictly　cautioned　by　his　mother　and　sisters　not　to　bow　except　with　the　greatest　care；　lest　he　rend　his　magnificence　and　reveal　that　it　was　too　tight　to　allow　an　inch　of　underclothing。　The　stockings；　in　particular；　had　been　short；　and　his　sister　had　providently　sewed　them　on　to　the　knee…breeches；　and　to　guard　against　accidents　still　further；　had　pinned　as　well　as　sewed；　the　pins　causing　Harry　much　anguish。　〃Poor　fellow！〃　said　Harry　again；　〃I　wonder　is　HE　pinned　somewhere？　I　feel　like　giving　him　a　lift；　he　is　so　prosy　it　isn't　likely　anyone　else　will　feel　moved　to　help。〃　Thus　it　came　about　that　when　the　dean　announced　that　the　alms　this　day　would　be　given　to　the　parish　of　our　friend　who　had　just　addressed　us；　and　the　plate　paused　before　the　Lossing　pew；　Harry　slipped　his　hand　into　his　waistcoat　pocket　after　those　two　five…dollar　notes。　I　should　explain　that　Harry　being　a　naturally　left…handed　boy；　who　has　laboriously　taught　himself　the　use　of　his　right　hand；　it　is　a　family　joke　that　he　is　like　the　inhabitants　of　Nineveh；　who　could　not　tell　their　right　hand　from　their　left。　But　Harry　himself　has　always　maintained　that　he　can　tell　as　well　as　the　next　man。　Out　drifted　the　flock　of　choir…boys　singing；　〃For　thee；　oh　dear；　dear　country；〃　and　presently；　following　them；　out　drifted　the　congregation；　among　the　crowd　the　girl　that　Harry　loved；　not　so　quickly　that　he　had　not　time　for　a　look　and　a　smile　（just　tinged　with　rose）；　and　because　she　was　so　sweet；　so　good；　so　altogether　adorable；　and　because　she　had　not　only　smiled　but　blushed；　and；　unobserved；　he　had　touched　the　fur　of　her　jacket；　the　young　man　walked　on　air。　He　did　not　remember　the　Saint　Bernards　until　after　the　early　Sunday　dinner；　and　during　the　after…dinner　cigar。　He　was　sitting　in　the　library；　before　some　blazing　logs；　at　peace　with　all　the　world。　　To　him；　thus；　came　his　mother　and　announced　that　the　dean　and　〃that　man　who　preached　this　morning；　you　know；〃　were　waiting　in　the　other　room。　〃They　seem　excited；〃　said　she；　〃and　talk　about　your　munificence。　What　HAVE　you　been　doing？〃　〃Appear　to　make　a　great　deal　of　fuss　over　ten　dollars；〃　said　Harry；　lightly；　as　he　sauntered　out　of　the　door。　The　dean　greeted　him　with　something　almost　like　confusion　in　his　cordiality；　he　introduced　his　companion　as　the　Rev。　Mr。　Gilling。　〃Mr。　Gilling　could　not　feel　easy　until　he　had　〃　〃Made　sure　about　there　being　no　mistake；〃　interrupted　Mr。　Gilling；　〃I　the　sum　was　so　great　〃　A　ghastly　suspicion　shot　like　a　fever…flush　over　Harry's　mind。　Could　it　be　possible？　　There　were　the　two　other　bills；　could　he　have　given　one　of　them？　　Given　that　howling　dervish　a　hundred　dollars？　The　thought　was　too　awful！　〃It　was　really　not　enough　for　you　to　trouble　yourself；〃　he　said；　〃I　dare　say　you　are　thanking　the　wrong　man。〃　He　felt　he　must　say　something。　To　his　surprise　the　dean　colored；　while　the　other　clergyman　answered；　in　all　simplicity：　〃No；　sir；　no；　sir。　　I　know　very　well。　　The　only　other　bill；　except　dollars；　on　the　plate；　the　dean　here　gave；　and　the　warden　remembers　that　you　put　in　two　notesI〃he　grew　quite　pale〃I　can't　help　thinking　you　maybe　intended　to　put　in　only　ONE！　　〃His　voice　broke；　he　tried　to　control　it。　〃The　sum　is　so　VERY　large！〃　quavered　he。　〃I　have　given　him　BOTH　bills；　two　hundred　dollars！〃　thought　Harry。　He　sat　down。　　He　was　accustomed　to　read　men's　faces；　and　plainly　as　ever　he　had　read；　he　could　read　the　signs　of　distress　and　conflict　on　the　prosaic；　dull　features　before　him。　〃I　INTENDED　to　put　in　two　bills；〃　said　he。　　Gilling　gave　a　little　gaspso　little；　only　a　quick　ear　could　have　caught　it；　but　Harry's　ear　is　quick。　　He　twisted　one　leg　around　the　other；　a　further　sign　of　deliverance　of　mind。　〃Well；　sir；　well；　Mr。　Lossing；〃　he　remarked；　clearing　his　throat；　〃I　cannot　express　to　you　properly　the　the　appreciation　I　have　of　youryour　PRINCELY　gift！〃　（Harry　changed　a　groan　into　a　cough　and　tried　to　smile。）　〃I　would　like　to　ask　you；　however；　HOW　you　would　like　it　to　be　divided。　　There　are　a　number　of　worthy　causes：　　the　furnishing　of　the　church；　which　is　in　charge　of　the　Ladies'　Aid　Society；　they　are　very　hard　workers；　the　ladies　of　our　church。　And　there　is　the　Altar　Guild；　which　has　the　keeping　of　the　altar　in　order。　　They　are　mostly　young　girls；　and　they　used　to　wash　my　thingsI　mean　the　vestments〃　（blushing）〃but　theythey　were　so　young　they　were　not　careful；　and　my　wife　thought　she　had　best　wash　thevestments　herself；　but　she　allowed　them　to　laundry　the　otherah；　things。〃　There　was　the　same　discursiveness　in　his　talk　as　in　his　sermon；　Harry　thought；　and　the　same　uneasy　restlessness　of　manner。　〃Then；　we　give　tovarious　causes；　andand　there　is；　also；　my　own　salary　〃　〃That　is　what　it　was　intended　for；〃　said　Harry。　〃I　hope　the　two　hundred　dollars　will　be　of　some　use　to　you；　and　then；　indirectly；　it　will　help　your　church。〃　Harry　surprised　a　queer　glance　from　the　dean's　brown　eyes；　there　was　both　humor　and　a　something　else　that　was　solemn　enough　in　it。　The　dean　had　believed　that　there　was　a　mistake。　〃All　of　it！　　To　ME！〃　cried　Gilling。　〃All　of　it。　　To　YOU；〃　Harry　replied；　dryly。　　He　was　conscious　of　the　dean's　gaze　upon　him。　　〃I　had　a　sudden　impulse；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　gave　it；　that　is　all。〃　The　tears　rose　to　the　clergyman's　eyes；　he　tried　to　wink　them　away；　then　he　tried　to　brush　them　away　with　a　quick　rub　of　his　fingers；　then　he　sprang　up　and　walked　to　the　window；　his　back　to　Harry。　Directly　he　was　facing　the　young　man　again；　and　speaking。　〃You　must　excuse　me；　Mr。　Lossing；　since　my　sickness　a　little　thing　upsets　me。〃　〃Mr。　Gilling　had　diphtheria　last　spring；〃　the　dean　struck　in；　〃there　was　an　epidemic　of　diphtheria；　in　Matin's　Junction；　Mr。　Gilling　really　saved　the　place；　but　his　wife　and　he　both　contracted　the　disease；　and　his　wife　nearly　died。〃　Harry　remembered　some　story　that　he　had　heard　at　the　time　his　eyes　began　to　light　up　as　they　do　when　he　is　moved。　〃Why；　YOU　are　the　man　that　made　them　disinfect　their　houses；〃　cried　he；　〃and　invented　a　little　oven　or　something　to　steam　mattresses　and　things。　　You　are　the　man　that　nursed　them　and　buried　them　when　the　undertaker　died。　　You　digged　graves　with　your　own　hands　I　say；　I　should　like　to　shake　hands　with　you！〃　Gilling　shook　hands；　submissively；　but　looking　bewildered。　He　cleared　his　throat。　　〃Would　you　mind；　Mr。　Lossing；　if　I　took　up　your　time　so　far　as　to　tell　you　what　so　overcame　me？〃　〃I　should　be　glad　〃　〃You　see；　sir；　my　wife　was　the　daughter　of　the　Episcopal　minister　I　mean　the　rector；　at　the　townwell；　it　wasn't　a　town；　it　was　two　or　three　towns　off　in　Shelby　County　where　I　had　my　circuit。　You　may　be　surprised；　sir；　to　know　that　I　was　once　a　Methodist　minister。〃　〃Is　it　possible？〃　said　Harry。　〃Yes；　sir。　　Her　fathermy　wife's；　I　meanwas　about　as　high　a　churchman　as　he　could　be；　and　be　married。　　He　induced　me　to　join　our　communion；　and　very　soon　after　I　was　married。　I　hope；　Mr。　Lossing；　you'll　come　and　see　us　some　time；　and　see　my　wife。　　Sheare　you　married？〃　〃I　am　not　so　fortunate。〃　〃A　good　wife　cometh　from　the　Lord；　sir；　SURE！　　I　thought　I　appreciated　mine；　but　I　guess　I　didn't。　She　had　two　things　she　wanted；　and　one　I　did　want　myself；　but　the　otherI　couldn't　seem　to　bring　my　mind　to　it；　noanyhow！　　We　hadn't　any　children　but　one　that　died　four　years　ago；　a　little　baby。　　Ever　since　she　died　my　wife　has　had　a　longing　to　have　a　stained…glass　window；　with　the　picture；　you　know；　of　Christ　blessing　little　children；　put　into　our　little　church。　In　Memoriam；　you　know。　　Seems　as　if；　now　we've　lost　the　baby；　we　think　all　the　more　of　the　church。　　Maybe　she　was　a　sort　of　idol　to　us。　　Yes；　sir；　that's　one　thing　my　wife　fairly　longed　for。　We've　saved　our　money；　what　we　COULD　save；　there　are　so　many　calls；　during　the　sickness；　last　winter；　the　sick　needed　so　many　things；　and　it　didn't　seem　right　for　us　to　neglect　them　just　for　our　baby's　window；　andthe　money　went。　　The　other　thing　was　different。　My　wife　has　got　it　into　her　head　I　have　a　fine　voice。　　And　she's　higher　church　than　I　am；　so　she　has　always　wanted　me　to　INTONE。　I　told　her　I'd　l