Part 10 (2/2)
”Like this evening light and beauty, after coming out of Mrs.
Eldridge's house.”
”And then, will this world seem like Mrs. Eldridge's house?”
”I think it will, in the contrast. Look at those dainty little flecks of cloud yonder, low down in the sky, that seem to have caught the light in their vaporous drapery and embodied it. See what brilliance of colour is there, and upon what a pure sky beyond!”
”Will _this_ ever seem like Mrs. Eldridge's house?” said Matilda.
”This is the world that G.o.d made,” said the minister, smiling. ”I was thinking of the world that man has made.”
”Lilac Lane, Mr. Richmond?” said Matilda, glancing around her. They were hardly out of it.
”Lilac Lane is not such a bad specimen,” said the minister, with a sigh this time. ”There is much worse than this, Matilda. And the worst of Lilac Lane is what you do not see. You had to buy your opportunity, then?” he added, with a smile again, looking down at Matilda.
”I suppose I had, Mr. Richmond.”
”What did you pay?”
”Mr. Richmond, it was not pleasant to think of touching Mrs. Eldridge's things.”
”No. I should think not. But you are not sorry you came? Don't you find, that as I said, it pays?”
”Oh yes, sir! But----”
”But what?”
”There is so much to do.”
”Yes!” said the minister, thoughtfully. And it seemed to have stopped his talk.
”Is Mrs. Rogers the other one?” Matilda asked.
”The other one?” repeated Mr. Richmond.
”The other opportunity. You said there were two in Lilac Lane, sir.”
”I do not know Mrs. Rogers.”
”But she is another one that wants the Bible read to her, Mr. Richmond.
She lives just across the way; I found her out by going to borrow a tea-kettle.”
”You borrowed your tea-kettle?”
”Yes, sir. Mrs. Eldridge has none. She has almost nothing, and as she says, there is n.o.body that cares.”
”Well, that will not do,” said the minister. ”We must see about getting a kettle for her.”
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