Part 26 (1/2)

”No? You should have informed me of the town's eccentricities. As it is, if my presence imperils your social standing you can seclude me until the next train.”

”Better than that,” cheerfully, ”I can take you to church.”

The alarmed look upon the professor's face was so enticing that Callandar continued with glee:

”Why not? I have always thought your objection to church-going a blot upon an otherwise estimable character. Hitherto I have been too busy to attend to it, but now--”

”Quit chaffing, Harry! I came up because I had to see you. You pay no attention to my letters. I never dreamed that you would stay a month in this backwater. What is wrong? What is the matter with you?”

”Look at me--and ask those questions again.”

The keen eyes of the b.u.t.ton-Moulder looked deep into the doctor's steady ones. There was a slight pause. Then--

”Yes, I see what you mean. I saw it as you came across the orchard.” The sharp voice softened. ”My anxiety for your health could hardly survive the way in which you leaped that fence! But all this makes it only the more mysterious. Have you found the fountain of youth or--or what?”

Callandar threw an affectionate arm over the other man's shoulders.

”I _am_ young, amn't I! Trouble is, I didn't know it.” He ruffled his hair at the side so that the grey showed plainly. ”Terrible thing when one loses the realisation of youth! But I've had my lesson. I'll never be old again, never!”

In spite of himself the professor's straight mouth curved a little. A spark of pride glowed in his cool eyes as he bent them upon the smiling face of his friend. Yet his tone was mocking as he said, ”Then it is the fountain of youth? One is never too old to find that chimera.”

”It's not something that I've found, old cynic. It's something that I've lost. Look at me hard! Don't you notice something missing? Did you ever read the 'Pilgrim's Progress'?”

”The Pilgrim's--”

”Breakfast is ready!” called Ann, teetering on her toes in the doorway.

”The Pil--”

”And Aunt--says--will--you--please--come--at--once--so's--the coff--ee--won't--be--cold!” chanted Ann.

”Yes, Ann. We're coming.”

”But I want to know--”

”Old man, I'll tell you after breakfast. I want you to see me eat. I wish to demonstrate that there is no deception. A miracle has really happened. No one could observe me breakfasting and doubt it!”

When they were seated he looked guilelessly into the still disapproving face of Mrs. Sykes. ”Perhaps you are wondering, as I did, what has brought Professor Willits back to Coombe,” he said, ”but time and s.p.a.ce mean little to professors, and the fact is that Willits has long wished to hear a sermon by the Reverend Mr. Macnair. He is coming with me this morning. Perhaps you hadn't better mention it, though. It might disturb Mr. Macnair to know that so eminent a critic was listening to him.”

The eminent critic frowned grimly and took a fourth cream biscuit without noticing it.

”Not a mite!” declared Mrs. Sykes. ”The man ain't born that can fl.u.s.ter Mr. Macnair. Nor yet the woman, unless it's Esther Coombe--Land sakes, Doctor! I forgot to tell you how that cup tips! Ann, get a clean table napkin. I hope your nice white pants ain't ruined, Doctor? I really ought to put that cup away but it's a good cup if it's held steady and I hate to waste good things. Last time it tipped was when the Ladies' Aid met here. Mrs. Coombe had it and the whole cup spilled right over her dress. I was that mortified! But she didn't seem to care. I can't imagine what's the matter with that woman. She's getting dreadful careless about her clothes. Next time I met her she wore that same dress, splash an' all! 'Tisn't as if she hadn't plenty of new things,--more than they can afford, if what folks say is true. You haven't met Mrs. Coombe yet, have you, Doctor?”

”She is away from home.”

”Well, when you do meet her you'll see what I mean, or like as not you won't, being a man. Men never seem to see anything wrong with Mary Coombe. But Esther must feel dreadful mortified sometimes when her Ma forgets to get hooked up behind. Esther's as neat as a pin. Always was.

Why, even when she got home last week after that awful time you and she had up at Pine Lake, and her having to stay overnight without so much as a clean collar, she walked in here as fresh as a daisy--won't you let me give you some more coffee, Professor?”