Part 31 (1/2)

To say that Frank was mystified is putting it very mildly.

”For me?” he exclaimed.

”Yes, mother sent it you.”

”Does she know what I said about her?”

”Yes, but I didn't tell her. I had to tell Nanna because of my jacket.”

Frank thought Nanna was the servant. He wanted very much to ”round on”

Jack for telling, but did not know how fairly to do it.

”She knew what I said about her, and yet sent me this chocolate!”

”Yes, you see she's a real Christian--Nanna says she's one of the right sort.”

”Well, she must be; my father's a Christian, but I don't speck he'd send anybody chocolates that snubbed _him_,” and the very idea made the boy laugh.

”You'll never say she's wicked again, will you?” pleaded Jack wistfully.

”That I won't, I'll say she's a stunner, and she is, too!” And from that moment Phebe Waring had no more brave defender than chubby-faced Frank Bell.

That same morning Phebe got a few minutes' talk with Nanna: ”Jack told me last night you knew all about his little battle and what occasioned it.”

”Yes, he did,” said Nanna, turning round to look at her carefully. She was not quite sure how much Phebe knew, nor how she would take it. The look satisfied her.

”I only want to say,” said Phebe, ”that you need not worry about it for my sake. I have been so happy lately that I can afford to have a little drawback like that. Perhaps G.o.d saw I needed something to keep me humble.”

But she could not have spoken in that brave tone twelve hours before.

She knew that, and Nanna guessed it too.

”Ah!” said Nanna, ”it wouldn't do for us any more than for the trees to have all suns.h.i.+ne and never have a storm.”

Yes, Phebe had been very blessed lately, and she not only knew it, but had drunk in all the joy of it. The railway-works had long since been completed, and the hall had been taken down and stored. Most of the men had been scattered all over the country, many of them taking with them the precious secret learnt from a woman's lips, but some still remained in Hadley and the neighbourhood, and these had persuaded Phebe to continue the meetings in the public hall. She had done so, and very happy gatherings they had proved to be.

Every week the further scheme she had in her mind took deeper root: the more she saw of working-men, of their hard life and colourless existence, the more she pitied them. The scheme was often talked over with faithful Nanna, whose brain was as keen as ever, though her body was more bent. More than once she advised Phebe to consult Stephen Collins, but Phebe could not trust herself to do that, knowing too well that temptation lay in that direction.

”Besides,” she would add, ”I have not money enough yet. Love's Hospital was not my gift--the money simply was pa.s.sed on by me. This time G.o.d seems to show that I have to work for the money, storing it up little by little. When I have enough and have got my plans all settled, I'll ask Stephen to carry them out for me. I don't mind doing that; it would not take long.”

CHAPTER XXIV

RECOGNISED

Bessie's marriage pa.s.sed off in high style,--the change that had come over her mother being most marked--and after a fortnight of ”doing the grand” at Bournemouth she and her ”Darling” Jones settled down to business with the firm determination of making it ”hum.” And ”hum” it did. Bessie had been a treasure in the business at Hadley, but she was a far smarter business woman now that she shared some responsibility.

Every morning the shutters were down at eight o'clock, every corner thoroughly swept by nine, every order attended to promptly, supplies well seen to. It was like taking in a breath of Swiss air to go into that shop. Many a sleepy country-woman rubbed her eyes and pulled herself together after an interview with Bessie. It was not simply done for the money it brought, though of course the more business done the more it was to the advantage of the managers, but the main impetus was in the thought that she was helping Mrs. Waring. Bessie's highest delight was to win her ”Well done!”--to know she was hastening the development of her scheme, for Phebe had taken both Reynolds and Jones into her confidence.

Bessie's mother marvelled at the change which had come over her, and wondered if it could possibly be the same girl who used to be always in hot water! If there was anything ”hot” now-a-days it was more of the nature of milk than water.