Part 28 (2/2)
They went in and greeted the old farmer; and soon the bell began to ring for church, and Nathan Dence told Martha to put on her bonnet.
”La, father!” said she, piteously.
”She prefers to stay at home and chat with Jael,” said Henry. The fact is, he wanted to be rid of them both.
Old Dence shook his head. He was one of those simple, grand, old rustic Christians, who have somehow picked out the marrow of religion, and left the devil the bone, yclept theology. ”What?” said he, ”my la.s.ses! can't ye spare G.o.d a slice out of his own day?”
”Nay, it is not that, father.”
The old man continued his remonstrance. ”To be sure our Jael is a cordial. But she'll dine and sup with us. Take my word for 't, all lawful pleasures are sweeter on the Lord's day after a bit o' church.”
”And so they are, father; but dear heart! to think of you forgetting.
Will n.o.body tell him? They're sworn to give me a red face, Jael and all.”
This piteous appeal set Jael's wits working. ”Eh, father, it will be the first of her bans!”
”Is it me you are asking such a question?” cried Patty, and turned her head away with absurd mock-modesty.
”And so 'tis,” said Dence; ”ah, that is a different thing.”
Henry thought that was no reason for Patty's staying at home; she ought rather to go and hear the bans were cried all right.
At this proposal both sisters lifted up their hands, and he was remonstrated with, and lectured, and at last informed that, if a girl was in church when her bans were cried, her children would be all born deaf and dumb.
”Oh, indeed!” said Little, satirically. ”That's a fact in natural history I was not aware of. Well, farmer, then let's you and I go by ourselves.”
So Patty stayed at home, in obedience to rural superst.i.tion, and Jael stayed to keep her company, and Farmer Dence went to church out of piety; and as for Henry, to tell the truth, he went to church to escape the girls' tongues, and to be in a quiet, somniferous place, where he could think out his plans undisturbed.
The men were no sooner gone than the sisters began to gossip hard.
”Eh, Jael, thou's gotten a prize.”
”Not as I know of.”
”I do adore a dark young man.”
”So do I; but this one is not mine.”
”I'll take his word before thine. Why, he calls thee his la.s.s in his very letter.”
”Not he. Show me his letter.”
”What will ye give me?”
”Nay, Patty, pray show it me.”
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