Meantime Keziah,installed as head nurse at the shanty,was having her troubles.The minister was getting better,slowly but surely getting better.The danger of brain fever was at an end,but he was very weak and must not be excited,so the doctor said.He knew nothing of the struggle for and against him which was splitting Trumet in twain,and care was taken that he should not know it.He was not allowed to talk,and,for the most part,was quite contented to be silent,watching Grace as she moved about the room.
If he wondered why she was still with him,he said nothing,and the thought of what his congregation might say did not vex him in the least.She was there,he saw her every day,that was enough.
He had expressed a wish to talk with his house keeper.I've got something to tell you,Aunt Keziah,he said weakly.Some news for you and--and--Cat's foot!snapped Keziah briskly,don't start in tellin'me news now.I've got my hands full as 'tis.News'll keep and you won't,if you talk another minute.But this is important.
So are you,though you may not think so.If you don't believe it ask Grace.Well,the minister sighed.Well,perhaps I won't tell it now.
I'd rather wait until I feel stronger.You won t care,will you?
It will be hard to tell and I--
No,no!Care?No.If it's bad news I don't want to hear it,and if it's good I can wait,I cal'late.You turn over and take a nap.She could manage him;it was with Grace that she had her struggle.
John was safe now;he would be himself again before very long,and the girl had begun to think of his future and his reputation.She knew that gossip must be busy in the village,and,much as she wished to remain by his side,she decided that she should not do so.And then Keziah began to fulfill her agreement with Dr.
Parker.
First,and bluntly,she told the girl that her leaving now was useless.The secret was out;it had been made public.Everyone knew she was in love with John and he with her.Their engagement was considered an established certainty.Grace was greatly agitated and very indignant.
Who dared say so?she demanded.Who dared say we were engaged?
It's not true.It's a wicked lie and--Who is responsible,Aunt Keziah?Well,I suppose likely I am,much as anybody,deary.You?You,Aunt Keziah?
Yup;me.You are in love with him;at any rate,you said so.And you're here with him,ain't you?If you two ain't engaged you ought to be.Aunt Keziah,how can you speak so?Don't you realize--Look here.Don't you want to marry him?
WANT to?Oh,please--How can you?I--
S-s-sh!There!there!I am a bull-headed old thing,for sure.
But I'm like the dog that chased the rat across the shelf where they kept the best china,my intentions are good.Don't cry,deary.Let's get to the bottom of this thing,as the man said when he tumbled into the well.When I first knew that you and John were in love with each other,I felt dreadful.I knew your uncle and Iknew Trumet.If you had married then,or let people know that you thought of it,'twould have been the end,and ruin for John and you.But things are diff'rent now,a good deal diff'rent.John is worshiped pretty nigh,since his pluck with that smallpox man.He could go into church and dance a jig in the pulpit and nobody--or precious few,at least--would find fault.And you've stood by him.
If it wa'n't for you he wouldn't be here to-day,and people know that.Dr.Parker and Captain Zebedee and Gaius Winslow and dozens more are fighting for him and for you.And the doctor says they are going to win.Do you want to spoil it all?Aunt Keziah,that night before uncle died I was upstairs in my room and I heard uncle and Captain Elkanah Daniels talking.Elkanah?Was he there at your house?
Yes.Somehow or other--I don't know how--he had learned about--about John and me.And he was furious.Aunt Keziah,I heard him say that unless I broke off with John he would drive him from the ministry and from Trumet and disgrace him forever.He said that if I really cared for him I would not ruin his life.That brought me to myself.I realized how wicked I had been and what I was doing.
That was why I--I--
There!there!Tut!tut!tut!hum!Now I see.But,Gracie,you ain't goin'to ruin his life.No,nor Elkanah ain't goin'to do it,either.He can't,no matter how hard he tries.I've lived to see the day when there's a bigger man in the Reg'lar church than Elkanah Daniels,and I thank the good Lord for it.I never should have come here.I know it.But he needed me.
Aunt Keziah,he was sick and dying almost,and I couldn't leave him.I came,and now he will be ruined and disgraced.He won't,I tell you;he won't.Listen to me.I ain't talkin' for my health.Listen!
