"Would to God it were either one thing or another! I
could be happy if I really cared for her, and if I hated her
downright I could endure it like any other calamity which cannot be
altered; but this is more than I can bear!"
The Allens, father and mother, held anxious debate whether they
should take any notice of the attack by their pastor, and in the end
determined to do nothing. They considered, and rightly considered,
that any action on their part would only make George's position more
difficult, and he was the first person to be considered.
Next Saturday there was some business to be done in London, and
George went, this time by himself. On the Sunday morning he called
on the Colemans, and found Zachariah at home, but Pauline away. Mr.
Bradshaw, too, was not to preach that day. It was wet, and Zachariah
and George sat and talked, first about the election, and then about
other indifferent subjects. Conversation--even of the best, and
between two friends--is poor work when one of the two suffers from
some secret sorrow which he cannot reveal, and George grew weary.
Zachariah knew what was the matter with him, and had known it for a
long while, but was too tender to hint his knowledge.
Pages:
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334