He was holding her hand so hard in his, that she winced with pain;
instantly his harsh grasp relaxed, and he looked down at the white
hand lying in his, soft, and fragrant, and useless as a flower; he
said something under his breath; then bent down and kissed it. When he
lifted his head, his face was very pale. "God bless you. God always
bless you. Good-by!" And he was on the road again, shutting the coach
door sharply. "Go on, Jonas!" he said. And Jonas gathered up the
reins.
Alone, she put her hands over her eyes again; the tumult of the moment
left her breathless and broken. She had hated him because he would
have robbed her of David; and then, when she robbed herself of David,
she had almost forgotten him; but now, when the chill of the future
was settling down upon her, to have him say he was her friend brought
a sudden warmth about her heart. There seemed to be some value to
life, after all.
She had told Jonas to stop at the Rectory, and Dr. Lavendar met her at
the front door. He explained that he wanted to have a last look at her
and make sure she was taking wraps enough for the long cold ride to
Mercer. He reminded her that she was to write to him the minute she
arrived, and tell him all about her journey, and Ellen Bailey,--"and
Spangler, of course," Dr. Lavendar added hurriedly. Then he asked her
if she would take a package with her?
"Yes, with pleasure," she said, looking vaguely out into the hall. But
there was no sign of David. "Where is the package, Dr. Lavendar?"
"I told Mary to give it to Jonas," he said. There was a moment's
pause, and she looked at him dumbly.
"David?"
"He isn't here," Dr. Lavendar said gently.
"Oh, Dr. Lavendar, tell him I love him! Will you tell him? Don't let
him forget me! Oh, don't let him quite forget me."
"He won't forget you," Dr. Lavendar said. He took both her hands, and
looked into her face. It was a long and solemn look, but it was no
longer questioning; the joy that there is in the presence of the
angels, is done with questioning.
"Helena," he said, "your Master came into the world as a little child.
Receive Him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving."
She looked up at him, trembling, and without words; but he understood.
A moment later he gave her his blessing; then he said cheerfully, "I
must not keep you any longer; come!" With Danny at his heels, he
walked beside her down the garden path to the coach. It had begun to
rain and the leather curtains flapped sharply in the cold wind. Jonas
had buttoned the big apron up in front of him, and it was already
shining wet; the steaming horses were pounding restlessly in the mud.