Part 6 (1/2)
”It was the look Lord Algernon tried to give Lady Cecul,” she thought, ”only he couldn't do it, 'cause it wasn't in Him to give. And it couldn't never be in him the same as 't is in Mr. St. John and Miss King. It ain't in her yet to see what was in his eyes. Some day when she gits more feelin's, mebby 't will be, though.”
When Amarilly had faithfully pictured the service to the household, Bud's anaemic face grew eager.
”Take me with yer, Amarilly, next time, won't yer?” he pleaded.
”It's too fer. You couldn't walk, Buddy,” she answered, ”and we can't afford car-fare fer two both ways.”
”I'll take him to-night,” promised the Boarder. ”We'll ride both ways, so fur as we kin. I'd like to hear a sermon now and then, especially by a young preacher.”
The little family stayed up that night until the return of Bud and the Boarder who were vociferous in approval of the service.
”It ain't much like our meetin'-house,” said Bud. ”It was het and lit.
And the way that orgin let out! Say, Amarilly, thar wasn't no man in sight to play it! I s'pose they've got one of them things like a pianner-player. Them surplused boys sung fine!”
”He give us a fine talk,” reported the Boarder. ”I've allers thought if a man paid a hundred cents on the dollar, 't was all that was expected of him. But I believe it's a good idee to go to church and keep your conscience jogged up so it won't rust. I'll go every Sunday, mebby, and take Bud so he kin larn them tunes.”
”I never go to no shows nor nuthin'!” wailed Cory.
”I'll take you next time,” soothed Amarilly. ”I kin work you'se off on the kinductor as under age, I guess, if you'll crouch down.”
CHAPTER VI
Monday's mops and pails broke in upon the spell of Amarilly's spiritual enchantment to some extent, but remembrance of the scenic effects lingered and was refreshed by the clothes-line of vestal garb which manifested the family prosperity, and heralded to the neighborhood that the Jenkins's star was in the ascendant.
”Them Jenkinses,” said Mrs. Hudgers, who lived next door, ”is orful stuck up sence they got the sudsin' of them surpluses.”
This animadversion was soon conveyed to Amarilly, who instantly and freely forgave the critic.
”She's old and rheumatic,” argued the little girl. ”She can't git to go nowhars, and folks that is shut in too long spiles, jest like canned goods. Besides, her clock has stopped. n.o.body can't go on without no clock.”
Out of pity for the old woman's sequestered life, Amarilly was wont to relate to her all the current events, and it was through the child's keen, young optics that Mrs. Hudgers saw life. An eloquent and vivid description of St. Mark's service was eagerly related.
”I allers thought I'd like to see them Episcopals,” she remarked regretfully. ”Ef church air wa'n't so bad fer my rheumatiz, I'd pay car-fare jest to see it onct. I was brung up Methodist though.”
This desire suggested to Amarilly's fertile little brain a way to make a contribution to John Meredith's pet missionary scheme, whose merits he had so ardently expounded from the pulpit.
”I'll hev a sacrud concert like the one he said they was goin' to hev to the church,” she decided.
She was fully aware of the sensation created by the Thursday clothes-line of surplices, and she resolved to profit thereby while the garments were still a novelty. Consequently the neighborhood was notified that a sacred concert by a ”surplused choir” composed of members of the Jenkins household, a.s.sisted by a few of their schoolmates, would be given a week from Wednesday night. This particular night was chosen for the reason that the church was.h.i.+ng was put to soak late on a Wednesday.
There was a short, sharp conflict in Amarilly's conscience before she convinced herself it would not be wrong to allow the impromptu choir to don the surplices of St. Mark's.
”They wouldn't spile 'em jest awearin' 'em onct,” she argued sharply, for Amarilly always ”sa.s.sed back” with spirit to her moral accuser.
”'Tain't as if they wa'n't agoin' into the wash as soon as they take 'em off. Besides,” as a triumphant clincher, ”think of the cause!”
Amarilly had heard the Boarder and a young socialist exchanging views, and she had caught this slogan, which was a tempting phrase and adequate to whitewash many a doubtful act. It proved effectual in silencing the conscience which Amarilly slipped back into its case and fastened securely.
She held nightly rehearsals for the proposed entertainment. After the first the novelty was exhausted, and on the next night there was a falling off in attendance, so the young, director diplomatically resorted to the use of decoy ducks in the shape of a pan of popcorn, a candy pull, and an apple roast. By such inducements she whipped her chorus into line, ably a.s.sisted by Bud, who had profited by his attendance at St. Mark's.