Volume II Part 56 (1/2)
”No, but now. I wish you would, so as to make me realize that you are the same person.”
”I am not the same person at all!” he said.
”Why are you not?” said Eleanor opening her eyes at him.
”In those days I was your pastor and friend simply. The difference is, that I have acquired the right to love you--take care of you--and scold you.”
”It seems to me that last was a privilege you exercised occasionally in those times,” said Eleanor archly.
”Not at all! In those days I was a poor fellow that did not dare say a word to you.”
Eleanor's recollections were of sundry exceptions to this rule, so marked and prominent in her memory that she could not help laughing.
”O Mr. Rhys, don't you remember--”
”What?” said he with the utmost gravity.
But Eleanor had stopped, and coloured now brilliantly.
”It seems that your recollections are of a questionable character,” he said. Eleanor did not deny it.
”What is it you wish me _not_ to remember?”
”It was a time when you said I was very wrong,” said Eleanor meekly, ”so do not call it back.”
He bent forward to kiss her, which did not steady Eleanor's thoughts at all.
”Do you want preaching?” he said.
”Yes indeed! It will do me good.”
”I will give you some words to think of, that I lived in all yesterday.
'Beloved of G.o.d.' They are wonderful words, that Paul says belong to all the saints; and they were about me yesterday like a halo of glory, from morning to night.”
Now Eleanor was all right; now she recognized Mr. Rhys and herself, and listened to every word with her old delight in them. Now she could use her eyes and look at him, though she well saw that he was considering her with that full, moved tenderness that she had felt in him all day; even when he was talking and thinking of other things he did not cease to remember _her_.
”Eleanor, what do you know about the meaning of those words?”
”Little!” she said. ”And yet, a little.”
”You know that _we_ were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols--or after others in our own hearts--as helplessly as the poor heathen around us. But we have got the benefit of that word,--'I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.'”
”Yes!”
”Then look at our privileges--'The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between is shoulders.'--Heavenly security; unearthly joy; a hiding-place where the troubles of earth cannot reach us.”
Mr. Rhys left his position before Eleanor at this, and with a brow all alight with its thoughts began to pace up and down in front of her; just as he had done at Pla.s.sy, she remembered. She ventured not a word.
Her heart was very full.
”Then look how we are bidden to increase our rejoicing and to delight ourselves in the store laid up for us; we are not only safe and happy, but fed with dainties. All things are ready; Christ says he will sup with us; and we are bidden--'Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.' 'He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.'