Part 8 (1/2)
”I don't care about that, but I'm very sorry that I've stained the table-cloth,” and I looked at Mrs. Hollenbeck as if I thought that she would scold me for it. But she quite rea.s.sured me. Indeed, I think she was so pleased with me, that she would not have minded seeing me ruin all the table-cloths that she had.
”But it will make you late for church, for you'll have to change your dress,” said Charlotte Benson, practically, glancing at the clock. I was very thankful for the suggestion, for I thought it would save me from the misery of trying to eat breakfast, but Kilian made such an outcry that I found I could not go without more comments than I liked.
”You have no appet.i.te either,” said Mary Leighton. ”I am ashamed to eat as much as I want, for here is Mr. Langenau beside me, who has only broken a roll in two and drank a cup of coffee.”
”I am not perhaps quite used to your American way of breakfasting,” he returned quickly.
”But you ate breakfasts when we first came,” said the sweet girl gently.
”Was not the weather cooler then?” he answered, ”and I have missed my walk this morning.”
”Let me give you some more coffee, at any rate,” said Sophie, with affectionate interest. Indeed, I think at that moment she absolutely loved him.
In a few minutes I escaped from the table; when I came down from my room ready for church, I found that they were all just starting. (Richard, I suppose, would have waited for me.) The church was in the village, and not ten minutes' walk from the house. Kilian was carrying Mary Leighton's prayer-book, and was evidently intending to walk with her.
Richard came up to me and said, ”Sophie is waiting to know if you will let her drive you, or if you will walk.”
I had not yet been obliged to speak to Richard since I had heard what people said about us, and I felt uncomfortable.
”Oh, let me drive if there is room,” I said, without looking up. Sophie sat in her little carriage waiting for me. Richard put me in beside her, and then joined the others, while we drove away. Benny, in his white Sunday clothes, sat at our feet.
”I think it is so much better for you to drive,” said Mrs. Hollenbeck, ”for the day is warm, and I did not think you looked at all well this morning.”
”No,” I said faintly. And she was so kind, I longed to tell her everything. It is frightful at seventeen to have no one to tell your troubles to.
At the gate Benny was just grumbling about getting out to open it, when Mr. Langenau appeared, and held it open for us. He was dressed in a flannel suit which he wore for walking. After he closed the gate, he came up beside the carriage, as Mrs. Hollenbeck very kindly invited him to do, by driving slowly.
”Are you coming with us to church, Mr. Langenau?” asked Benny.
”To church? No, Benny. I am afraid they would not let me in.”
”Why, yes, they would, if you had your good clothes on,” said Benny.
Mr. Langenau laughed, a little bitterly, and said he doubted, even then.
”I am afraid I haven't got my good conscience on either, Benny.”
”But the minister would never know,” said Benny.
”That's very true; the ministers here don't know much about peoples'
consciences, I should think.”
”Do ministers in any other places know any more?” asked Benny with interest.
”Why, yes, Benny, in a good many countries where I've been, they do.”
”You are a Catholic, Mr. Langenau?” asked Mrs. Hollenbeck.
”I once was; I have no longer any right to say it is my faith,” he answered slowly.