"Sort of medicine-man?" suggested Morrell.
"Exactly! The aborigines understood the thing. Why, I suppose that a real
live medicine-man could go through a community like this and not leave a
sinful soul nor a sore body in it among the ladies--perfect faith cure."
"But what did you say to Mr. Peck, Ralph?" asked Annie. "Didn't you attempt
any defence?"
"No," said Putney. "He had the advantage of me. You can't talk back at a
man in the pulpit."
"Oh, it was a sermon?"
"I suppose the other people thought so. But I knew it was a private
conversation that he was publicly holding with me."
Putney and the doctor began to talk of the nature and origin of evil, and
Annie and the boy listened. Putney took high ground, and attributed it to
Adam. "You know, Annie," he explained, "I don't believe this; but I like to
get a scientific man that won't quite deny Scripture or the good old Bible
premises, and see him suffer. Hello! you up yet, Winthrop? I guess I'll go
through the form of carrying you to bed, my son."
When Mrs. Putney rejoined them, Annie said she must go, and Mrs. Putney
went upstairs with her, apparently to help her put on her things, but
really to have that talk before parting which guest and hostess value above
the whole evening's pleasure. She showed Annie the pictures of the little
girls that had died, and talked a great deal about their sickness and their
loveliness in death. Then they spoke of others, and Mrs. Putney asked Annie
if she had seen Lyra Wilmington lately. Annie told of her call with Mrs.
Munger, and Mrs. Putney said: "I _like_ Lyra, and I always did. I
presume she isn't very happily married; he's too old; there couldn't have
been any love on her part. But she would be a better woman than she is if
she had children. Ralph says," added Mrs. Putney, smiling, "that he knows
she would be a good mother, she's such a good aunt."
Annie put her two hands impressively on the hands of her friend folded at
her waist. "Ellen, what _does_ it mean?"
"Nothing more than what you saw, Annie. She must have--or she _will_
have--some one to amuse her; to be at her beck and call; and it's best to
have it all in the family, Ralph says."
"But isn't it--doesn't he think it's--odd?"
"It makes talk."