Part 33 (2/2)
”I've given her every chance. I have exhorted her to repent. She is an evil woman.”
He paused, and Dr Macphail saw his eyes darken and his pale face grow hard and stern.
”Now I shall take the whips with which the Lord Jesus drove the usurers and the money changers out of the Temple of the Most High.”
He walked up and down the room. His mouth was close set, and his black brows were frowning.
”If she fled to the uttermost parts of the earth I should pursue her.”
With a sudden movement he turned round and strode out of the room. They heard him go downstairs again.
”What is he going to do?” asked Mrs Macphail.
”I don't know.” Mrs Davidson took off her _pince-nez_ and wiped them.
”When he is on the Lord's work I never ask him questions.”
She sighed a little.
”What is the matter?”
”He'll wear himself out. He doesn't know what it is to spare himself.”
Dr Macphail learnt the first results of the missionary's activity from the half-caste trader in whose house they lodged. He stopped the doctor when he pa.s.sed the store and came out to speak to him on the stoop. His fat face was worried.
”The Rev. Davidson has been at me for letting Miss Thompson have a room here,” he said, ”but I didn't know what she was when I rented it to her.
When people come and ask if I can rent them a room all I want to know is if they've the money to pay for it. And she paid me for hers a week in advance.”
Dr Macphail did not want to commit himself.
”When all's said and done it's your house. We're very much obliged to you for taking us in at all.”
Horn looked at him doubtfully. He was not certain yet how definitely Macphail stood on the missionary's side.
”The missionaries are in with one another,” he said, hesitatingly. ”If they get it in for a trader he may just as well shut up his store and quit.”
”Did he want you to turn her out?”
”No, he said so long as she behaved herself he couldn't ask me to do that. He said he wanted to be just to me. I promised she shouldn't have no more visitors. I've just been and told her.”
”How did she take it?”
”She gave me h.e.l.l.”
The trader squirmed in his old ducks. He had found Miss Thompson a rough customer.
”Oh, well, I daresay she'll get out. I don't suppose she wants to stay here if she can't have anyone in.”
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