Part 14 (2/2)
”You will recollect, then, the amazing conditions in India which confronted Dr. Judson and his wife.”
Brandes recollected perfectly--with a slow glance at Stull.
”All that is changed,” said the invalid. ”--G.o.d be thanked. And conditions in Armenia are changing for the better, I hope.”
”Let us hope so,” returned Brandes solemnly.
”To doubt it is to doubt the goodness of the Almighty,” said the Reverend Mr. Carew. His dreamy eyes became fixed on the rain-splashed window, burned a little with sombre inward light.
”In Trebizond,” he began, ”in my time----”
His wife came into the room, saying that the spare bedchamber was ready and that the gentlemen might wish to wash before supper, which would be ready in a little while.
On their way upstairs they encountered Ruhannah coming down. Stull pa.s.sed with a polite grunt; Brandes ranged himself for the girl to pa.s.s him.
”Ever so much obliged to you, Miss Carew,” he said. ”We have put you to a great deal of trouble, I am sure.”
Rue looked up surprised, shy, not quite understanding how to reconcile his polite words and pleasant voice with the voice and manner in which he had addressed her on the bridge.
”It is no trouble,” she said, flus.h.i.+ng slightly. ”I hope you will be comfortable.”
And she continued to descend the stairs a trifle more hastily, not quite sure she cared very much to talk to that kind of man.
In the spare bedroom, whither Stull and Brandes had been conducted, the latter was seated on the big and rather shaky maple bed, b.u.t.toning a fresh s.h.i.+rt and collar, while Stull took his turn at the basin. Rain beat heavily on the windows.
”Say, Ben,” remarked Brandes, ”you want to be careful when we go downstairs that the old guy don't spot us for sporting men. He's a minister, or something.”
Stull lifted his dripping face of a circus clown from the basin.
”What's that?”
”I say we don't want to give the old people a shock. You know what they'd think of us.”
”What do I care what they think?”
”Can't you be polite?”
”I can be better than that; I can be honest,” said Stull, drying his sour visage with a flimsy towel.
After Brandes had tied his polka-dotted tie carefully before the blurred mirror:
”What do you mean by that?” he asked stolidly.
”Ah--I know what I mean, Eddie. So do you. You're a smooth talker, all right. You can listen and look wise, too, when there's anything in it for you. Just see the way you got Stein to put up good money for you!
And all you done was to listen to him and keep your mouth shut.”
<script>