第16章

Shockhadearlyrecognisedthattheevilswhichweresorampant，andthatexercisedsuchabanefulinfluenceinthecommunity，wereduenotsomuchtoanyinherentloveofviceastotheconditionsunderwhichthemenwereforcedtolive。Lifewasalonelythingontheranges，withoutcolour，withoutvariety，andmenplungedintodebaucheryfromsheerdesperatereactionfrommonotony。Shockbelievedthat，iftherecouldbeestablishedasocialcentreofferingintellectualinterestandphysicalrecreation，muchcouldbedonetobanishthevicesthatwerefastbecomingimbeddedintheverylifeandcharacterofthepeople。Andsoheplannedtheerectionofabuildingthatwouldserveforchurch，manse，club—

house，schoolroom，andlibrary，andwouldthusbecomeaspotaroundwhichthelifeofthecommunitymightgatherinacleanandwholesomeatmosphere。HeappealedtotheChurchManseBuildingFundforagrant，hedrewhisplansforhisbuilding，andthroughoutthesummerquietlysetaboutgatheringhismaterials。Oneandanotherofhisfriendshewouldpersuadetohaulaloadoflogsfromthehills，andwithgood—naturedpersistencehewouldgetaday’sworknowandagainfromtheyoungfellowswhofrequentlyhadmoretimeontheirhandsthantheyknewhowtoreasonablymakeuseof，withtheresultthatbeforetheywerewellawareofwhatwasbeingdonealogbuildingstoodreadyfortheroofingandplaster。Hissuccessstimulatedhisfriendstomoreorganisedandcontinuedeffort。Theybegantoviewitheachotherinmakingcontributionsofworkandmaterialforthenewbuilding。Macnamarafurnishedlime，Martindrewsand，SinclairandTheKid，whohadthebesthorsesandwagons，drewlumberfromthemillattheFort;andbythetimesummerwasgonethebuilding，roofed，chinked，andplastered，onlyrequiredafewfinishingtouchestobereadyfortheopening。Indeed，itwasamostcreditablestructure。Itwasalarge，roomy，two—storybuilding，thedownstairsofwhichwasgivenuptoaroomtobedevotedtopublicuses。TheupstairsShockplannedtocontainfourbed—rooms。

"Whatdoyouwantoffourbed—rooms，Mr。Prospector？"saidIke，astheywerelayingoutthespace。"Youcan’tsleepinmore’nthreeof’ematatime。"

"No，butyoucansleepinone，Ike，andsomeoftheboysinanother，andIwantonemyself。"

"Oh！"saidIke，muchpleased。"Goingtorunakindofstoppin’

place，areyou？"

"Yes;Ihopemyfriendswillstopwithmeoften。"

"Guessyouwon’thavemuchtroublewiththatsideofit，"saidIke。

"Andthishereroom，"hecontinued，"willdofirstrateforakindoflumber—room，provisions，andharness，andsuchlike，Iguess？"

"No，"saidShock。"Thisroomwillbethefinestroominthehouse。

See:itwilllookawayouttowardthesouthandwest，overthelake，anduptothemountains。Theinsideoftheroomwon’tbehardtobeat，buttheoutsidecannotbeequalledinalltheworld，andI

tellyouwhat，Ike，itcannotbetoogood，forthisroomisformymother。"Therewasareverent，tendertoneinShock’svoicethattouchedIke。

"Isshereallygoin’tocomeouthere？"heasked。

"Ihopeso，"saidShock。"Nextspring。"

"Isay，"saidIke，"won’tshefinditlonely？"

"Idon’tthinkso，"saidShock，withacurioussmile。"Youknow，mymotherisratherpeculiar。Fortwenty—fiveyears，withoutmissingasinglenight，shecameintomyroomtokissmebeforeIwenttosleep，andshe’sjustthatfoolishthatifI’manywherearoundI

don’tthinkshe’llbelonely。"AndthenShockproceededtogiveIkeapictureofhismother，andallherdevotiontohimthroughthelongyearsofhislife。Theroughbuttender—heartedcowboywasmoretouchedthanhecaredtoshow。

"Say，"hesaid，whenShockhadfinished，"howdidyouevercometoleaveher？Icouldn’t’a’doneit，nohow。"

"Shesentme，"saidShocksimply。"There’sOneshelovesbetterthanme。"AndIkeunderstoodwithoutmoreexplanation。

Forthefurnishingofthehouse，andfortheequipmentofthelibraryandclub—rooms，ShockhadappealedtohisfriendsintheEastthroughBrown，towhomhegaveafulldescriptionofthebuildingandthepurposesforwhichithadbeenerected。Theresponsewassoheartyandsogenerousthat，whentheloadsofhouse—furnishings，books，magazines，andpapersarrived，Shock’sheartwasfulltooverflowingwithgratitude，and，whenalittlelaterhereceivednoticethatacabinetorganhadarrivedattherailroaddepot，hefeltthatthedifficultiesandtrialsofamissionary’slifewerefewandsmallincomparisonwiththetriumphsandrewards。

Atlengtheverythingwasinplaceandthebuildingreadyfortheopening。Thepreparationsforthisgreateventwereinthehandsofacommittee，ofwhichTheKidwaschairman;thedecorationswerelefttoIkeandPerault;theprogrammewaslefttoTheKid，assistedbyMarion，whohadbeenpersuadednotonlytosing，herself，buthadagreedtotraintheschoolchildreninsomeactionsongs。Therewastobeagrandsupper，ofcourse，——nothingWesternwouldbecompletewithoutthatfeature，——andinadditiontotheordinaryspeechesandmusicalnumberstherewastobeanigger—minstrelshowwithclog—

dancingfurnishedbytheminersandlumbermenfromthePass，atShock’surgentinvitation。ThewholeaffairwastobewoundupbyagrandpromenadeheadedbyyoungMalcolmForbes，sonofaHighlandchief，ashyyoungfellowwhomShockhaddugupfromaremotevalley，andwhowastoappearinfullHighlandcostumewithhispipes。Smallwonderthatthewholecommunity，fromtheForttothePass，wastinglingwithdelightedanticipation。Suchaneventwasnotonlyimportantofitself，butitwashailedastheinaugurationofanewerainthecountry，forwithchurch，school，library，andclubtheywouldbeabreastofthemostadvancedEasterncivilisation。

NotonlywerethepeopleoftheLoonLakedistrictstirredwithinterestintheopeningoftheirnewbuilding，buttoafargreaterextentthantheyknewtheirconfidenceandeventheiraffectionhadgatheredaboutthemantowhoseenergythewholeenterprisewasdue。

Duringthesemonthstheyhadcometorelyuponhisjudgmentasamanofaffairs，totrusthimforhistruehumanheart，andtoregardhimwithreverenceasonetouchedwithaspiritunlikethatoftheworldwithwhichtheywerefamiliar——aspiritofgeneroussympathywiththeminalltheirmultitudinoustrialsanddifficulties，aspiritthatmadehimthinknothingofhimselfandmuchofthem。Herepresentedtothemreligioninamanneratoncewinningandimpressive，asfewofthemhadeverseenitrepresentedbefore。

Atlengththegreatdaycame，andwithitthegatheringofthepeoplefromallpartsfarandnear。AfewfarmerswholivedtowardtheFortcamewiththeirwivesandchildreninhorse—wagonsandox—

wagons;therancherswiththeirfamiliesdroveforthemostpartinDEMOCRATSandbuckboards;butmanyoftheranchersandtheirwivesandallthecowboyscameonhorseback。TherehadneverbeensuchagatheringatLoonLakewithinthememoryoftheoldesttimer。Thepreparationsforsupperwereelaborateandimpressive。Itwasimportantthatthispartoftheevening’sproceedingsshouldgooffwell。AsShock，passingupanddown，witnessedtheaboundinghilarityofthosewhothrongedthesupper—tableshismindwasrelievedofallanxietyastothesuccessoftheentertainmenttofollow。WithgreatdifficultySinclair，whowasashyman，waspersuadedtopresideaschairman。ItwasonlythepromiseofShocktosupporthimontheonesideandofFatherMike，whowasalmostasmuchinterestedinthesuccessoftheentertainmentasShockhimself，ontheother，thatinducedSinclairfinallytoacceptthisresponsibleandhonourableposition。ItwasindeedanhouroftriumphtoShockandhisfellow—workers，andastheentertainmentprogressedtheygatheredsatisfactiontothefullfromthemanifestationsofdelightonthepartoftheaudiencethatpackedthebuildingtothedoors。

Aftertheentertainmenthadwellbegunastrangerappearedatthedooraskingfortheminister。

"Well，"saidIke，whowasperformingtheresponsibledutyofdoor—

keeper，"youcan’tseehim，notnow。What’srequired？"

"Iguessit’sprettyimportant，"thestrangersaid。

"It’satelegram。Infact，it’sbadnews，soMr。McIntyreofBigRiversaid。"

"Badnews！"exclaimedIke。"Mightybadtimetobringbadnews。Whycouldn’tyouwait？"

"Somethingscan’twait，"saidthemanbriefly。"Guessyou’dbetterreadit，it’sopen。"

"Notme，"saidIke，shrinkingfromthisliberty。"SendforTheKid。"

InafewmomentsTheKidappearedand，takingthetelegramfromIke，readit。

"TheLordhelpus！"heexclaimedashereadthewire。HetookIketoonesideawayfromthecrowdandreadhimthewords:"’Yourmotherseriouslyill。Doctorsholdoutnohopeofrecovery。Signed，BROWN。’"

"Hismother！Say，boss，what’llwedo？Hethinksamightylotofhismother。I’veheerdhimtalk。Thiswillpurtynighkillhim，I

guess。"

Theystoodforsomemomentslookingblanklyateachother，unwillingtodelivertheblowwhichtheyknewwouldstrikedeepintotheheartofthemantheyhadcometolove。

"Hemustbetold，"saidTheKidatlength。"Let’ssee——he’llwanttogettotheendoftheline，anyway，andthat’soverahundredmilesfromhere。Isay，Ike，you’dbettertellhim，Iguess。"

"Well，"saidIkeslowly，"thatthere’sapurtyparticularbitofdiplomatics，andIaintusedtoit。Isay，"withasuddeninspiration，"youtellhim。"

"Couldn’tdoit，Ike。HowwoulditdotogetFatherMikeorSinclair？"

"Yes，"saidIkemeditatively，"they’ddoallrightifweweren’there，butIguesswebelongtohim’mostmorethantheydo。"

"That’sso，Ike，"saidTheKidquickly。"That’sso;it’soneofus。"

"Yes，it’soneofus，"saidIke，"andifIcoulddoitwell，boss，youwouldn’tseenobuck。"

"Allright，Ike，"saidTheKid，drawingalongbreath。"I’lldoit。"

"I’llrememberit，boss，"saidIke。"Guessthereaintmuchtimetolose。Howisheagoin’togitthere？"

"TaketheSwallow，Ike，"saidTheKid。"She’sgoodforahundredmiles。"

"Mr。McIntyre’steamwillbereadytogofromhisplace，"saidthestranger，whohadcomenear。

"Good！"saidTheKid。"Whereareyougoing，Ike？"

"Togitthehorses。He’llwanttogitrightoff。IguessI’llputhimonSlipper，andI’lltaketheSwallow。Slipperridespurtyeasy，andhe’sapurtybigman。"

"Allright，Ike，"saidTheKid。"Remembereveryminuteisprecious。

Here，Mac，"hecontinued，turningtoMacnamara，whostoodlookinginatthedoor，craninghisnecktoseeandhearwhatwasgoingon，"sliparoundtothesidedoorandtellMr。MacgregorthatIwanthimrightaway。"

InafewminutesShockcamerunningoutinhighspirits，elatedwiththesuccessoftheevening。"Hello，oldboy！"hecriedtoTheKid。

"It’sgreat，isn’tit？You’reagreatconcertconductor！Whatdoyouwantmefor？"

TheKidtookhimbythearmandledhimawayinsilencetowardtheOldProspector’sshack，whichstoodnearby。

"What’sthematter，Stanton;anythinggonewrong？"StillTheKidmadenoreply;but，walkingtothedooroftheshack，openedit，andwentinandlitthelamp。"Sitdown，"hesaid，pushingShockintoachair。"Ihavesomethingtotellyou。There’s——there’sbadnews，I’mafraid。I’llwaitoutside。"Heputthetelegramdown，wenthastilyout，andclosedthedoor，leavingShocktofacetheblowwherenoeyecouldsee。

ItseemedanhourtoTheKidbeforeIkecameupwiththeSwallowandSlippersaddledandreadyforthejourney。

"Whereishe？"saidIke，inawhisper。

"Inthere，"repliedTheKid，withagroan。"Godhelphim！"

"IguessHewill。Heoughtto，"saidIkegravely，"Gotgrub，Ike，andblankets？"

Ikenodded，pointingtothesackstrappedtothesaddle。

"Heoughttostart，"saidTheKidnervously，"Thatwire’stwodaysoldnow。Itwilltaketillto—morrownighttoreachtownevenifeverythinggoesright，andeverymomentcounts。Bettergoin，"hecontinued，"andtellhimthehorsesareready。"

Ikenoddedandwenttowardthecloseddoor，openeditsoftly，andwentin。HefoundShocksittingatthetablegazingvacantlyatthetelegraminhishandasiftryingtotakeinitsmeaning。HelookedupatIkeasheenteredand，handinghimthetelegram，said:

"It’smymother，Ike。Doyouremembermymother？"

"Yes，Iknow，"repliedIke，approachinghimtimidlyandlayingahandawkwardlyonhisshoulder。"Idon’twanttopresume，"hecontinued，"butIwaswonderin’iftherewasanyonewhocouldhelpyoutostandit？"

"Thereis，thereisOne，thereis。"

"That’sallright，then，"saidIke，asifanimportantmatterhadbeensettled。"Thehorsesareready。"

"Thehorses？"saidShock，withapuzzledair。

"Yes;thoughtyou’dwanttoridetotowntogettosendawireorsomethin’。"

"OfcourseIdo;thankyou。I’llgotoheratonce。WhatafoolI

am！"Herosehastilyashespoke，changedhiscoat，andgettinghishatandridingglovescameouttowhereTheKidstoodwiththehorses。

"Why，it’stheSwallow，andSlipper！"hesaid，"Boys，thisisgoodofyou。"

TheKidstoodwithoutaword，lookingatShock’swhite，dazedface。

Hecouldnottrusthisvoicetospeak。

"You’dbestgetontoSlipper，"saidIke。"Rideseasyandismightysure。TheSwallow’sallright，ofcourse，"hecontinuedapologeticallytoTheKid，"butaleetlelight"

"ButIdon’twantboth，"saidShock。

"Oh！IguessI’llgoalong，"declaredIke。"Iknowthetrailsandshort—cutsalittlebetter。Cansavetime，perhaps。Thatis，"headded，"ifyoudon’tmindmygoin’along。"

"That’sawfullygoodofyou，Ike，"saidShock。"Ishallbegladtohaveyou。"

"Good—bye，Kiddie，"saidShockaffectionately，holdingouthishandtoTheKid。"Icannotsay，muchjustnow，butIappreciatethiskindness，my，boy。"

"Don’t，don’t！"saidTheKid，inahuskywhisper。"IwishtoHeavenIcouldhelpyou。Good—bye。"

"Good—bye，"saidShock，takingupthereins。"Oh！Isay，Kid，don’ttellanyoneto—night。Keepthethinggoing;itwouldbeapitytospoiltheirfun，youknow。Youcandothisforme，can’tyou？"

"Icantry，"saidTheKid，settinghisteethtogether。

Hestoodlookingafterthemastheywentupthetrailinthemoonlight"Oh！thiscursedcountry！"hegroaned。"It’ssofarfromanyplace。He’llneverseeheragain，I’msure。Well，ImustkeepthisthinggoingasIpromised。ButsomeofthenumberI’llcutout，youcanbet。"

Straightonthroughthemoonlightrodethetwomen，theonetryingtomakerealthewordsthatmarchedwithceaselesstrampacrosshisbrain:"Doctorsholdoutnohopeofrecovery。"Theyseemedlikewordsoffirewrittenacrosstheprairie。Theother，ridingalittlebehind，exceptwherethetrailgrewdifficultorindistinct，silentbutalertforopportunitytoofferaidorshowsympathy，governingcarefullythepacesothatthebestpossiblespeedcouldbegotoutofthesuperbanimalsthatwiththeirswinginglopecoveredthelongslopesupanddown。ThememoryofthatridetoShockinafteryearswaslikethatofaghastlynightmare，astrangeinterminglingofmoonlightandshadow;themurmurofthenightwindabouthisears;

thesteadybeatofthehoofsuponthebeatentrail;thepauseatmidnightbytheupperfordoftheBlackDogtofeedandresttheirhorses;andthenthesteadyonwardpushthroughthenighttillthegreyandgoldoftheeasternskytoldthatthemorninghadcome。Hecouldneverforgethowthefirstbeamsoftherisingsunsmotehiseyeslikethecutofawhiptillhewasalmostforcedtocryoutinhispain。Herememberedhowitseemedtohimasifhewereinthegripofsomemysteriousforceimpellinghimonwardinthatunending，relentlesslope。Anotherpauseatsunrisetogivethehorsesbreath，andthenonagaintheyrodethroughthatterribleredlightoftherisingsun，tillatlengthinthestillearlyforenoonthemanseofBigRiverwasreached。Theirhorseswerejadedandleg—weary，forinthethirteenhoursduringwhichtheyhadkeptuptheirlong，swinginggaittheyhadcoveredmorethanahundredmiles。

TheMcIntyreswereexpectingthem。

"Wewantspeakabouthismother，dear，"saidthelittlewomanofthemanse，withawarmfeelinginherheartforthemissionarywhohadspentanightwiththemsomesevenmonthsago，andhadtoldthemsosimplyandfullyofhislife，astoryofwhichtheheartandsoulhadbeenhismother。"Ithurtstospeakofthesethingsforawhile，"sheadded。

"Yes，mydarling，Iknow，"saidherhusband，hiseyeslingeringtenderlyuponthefacelookingsosweet，butsowanandpaleabovetheblackdressandcrepecollar。"Weknow，weknow，darling，"herepeated，takingherinhisarms。Theywereboththinkingofthelittlemoundlookingsosmalluponthewideprairie，smallbutbigenoughtoholdalltheirheart’streasure。Forfivemonthsthemansehadbeenoverrunningwithheaven’sownlight;andwithjoythatrippledandflowedfrombabylaughter，thatlurkedindimpledfingersanddimpledtoesanddimpledcheeks，everydimpleawelloflightandjoy——andthenthelittlemoundwithitswhiterailing，andonlytheechoesofthelaughterandthememoryofthedimpledfingers，toes，andcheeks，——andtheemptymanse！ItwasthismemorythatmadetheirwelcomeofShocksofulloftenderunderstanding。

Thereisnospeechlikeheart—speech，andduringthehourintheBigRivermansetoShock’shearttherecame——howhecouldnothavetold—

—theinarticulatemessageofsympathythathealedandcomforted，sothathedroveawayrestedandrefreshedaswithsleep。AstheywerehitchinguptheteamIkefoundopportunitytowhispertoShock:"I

say，p’rhapsyou’dratherhe’dgowithyou;he’dhelpyoumore，p’rhaps？"

"No，no，Ike;don’tleaveme;Iwantyou，"Shockhadreplied。

"Allright，boss;thatsuitsme，"wasIke’sanswer，gladthathisofferhadnotbeenaccepted。

"Good—bye，"saidMr。McIntyre，wavinghishand。"Donotsparethem，Ike，"hecontinued。"TheycanmakeSpruceCreekintwohoursandahalfeasily。"

"I’lltakecareo’them，"saidIke，swingingthefiery，half—brokenbronchosontothetrail。"They’doughttodoalittlebetterthanthat，Ijudge。"Andtheydid;for，whenthebuckboarddrewupattheSpruceCreekStoppingPlaceIkeremarkedtoBillLee，whostoodinhisusualpositionleaningagainstthedoor:"TwohoursfromBigRiver，andnotmuchtheworse，Iguess。"

Bill’swelcomeofShockwasalmosteffusiveinitsheartiness，butIkecuthimshort。

"Isay，Bill，"hecalledout，walkingtothestable;"gotanyoatsinhere？"

"Oh，afew。Ikeepsomeforthoroughbreds，youknow。"AndhewalkedafterIkeintothestable。

Ikebegantalkingrapidlyandinalowtone。AsBilllistenedhebecameunusuallyexcited。"Eh！What！No。Say，that’sbad，tooblankbad！Hismother，eh？Myteam？Certainly。Theretheyare，fitforagooddozenanhour。Put’emrightin。"

IntenminutesBill’steam，theprideofhisheart，werehitchedtothebuckboard。

"Allright，Bill，"saidIke，takingthereins。

"Allright，Ike，"repliedBill。"Theirskindon’tsaymuch，buttheycantalkwiththeirfeetafew。Let’emgo。Theywon’trunaway。"

TheperformanceofBill’sbony，shaggyteammorethanjustifiedtheirowner’spromise。Theydid"talkwiththeirfeet，"andtosuchgoodpurposethatinlessthantwohoursShockstoodatthedoorofhisConvener’shouse，hismindbewildered，hissensesnumbedfromtheterriblestrainthroughwhichhehadpassed。

"Comein，mydearfellow，"saidtheConvener，whohadevidentlybeenexpectinghim，"comerightin。"

ButShockstoodatthedoor。"Isthereanyword？"heenquired，withavoicevoidofallemotion。

"Nothingfurther。"

"Whendoesthetraingo？"

"Thetrain？Oh，attwointhemorning。"

"Howlongdoesittake？"

"Fivedays。"

"Fivedays！"echoedShock，inavoiceofdespair。

"Youmightwireamessageinthemeantime，"saidtheConvenerkindly。"Wewillgodowntothetelegraphofficeafteryouhavehadarestandacupoftea。"

"No，no，"saidShock，turningeagerlyfromthedoor。"Iamallright;cannotwegonow？"

Atthetelegraphofficeanumberofmenstoodlaughingandtalking。

Shockdrewablanksheettowardhimandsethimselftocomposehiswire。Againandagainhemadetheattempt，butatlengthheputdownthepenandlookedaroundpiteouslyathisfriend。"Icannotsayit！"heexclaimedinahurriedwhisper。

"Comeoutsideaminute，"saidtheConvener，takinghisarm。"NowtellmewhatyouwanttosayandperhapsIcanhelpyou。"

"Oh！"criedShock，wreathinghisgreatfingersanhisagony。"Iwanttosaygoodbye——No，no，notthat！Iwanttotellher——givehermyloveandsayIwanttoseeher。Shewillbewantingme。"Hisbreathbegantocomeingreatheavingsobs。

"Letmetry，"saidhisfriend。"Youstayouthere。"

AftersomemomentstheConvenerreturnedandhandedShockapaperonwhichhehadwritten:"Godkeepyou，motherdear。Myheart’slovetoyou。ShallIcome？"

"Willthatdo？"heasked。

"Yes，yes;thankyou。Thatisgood。"

"Now，"saidtheConvener，whentheyhadreachedthehouse，"youmustrest。"

"Iamnottired，"saidShock，asifinsurprise。

"Mydearfellow，youarehalfdead。"

"No，Iamquiteright，andbesides，there’sIke。IoughttolookafterIke。"

"Don’tyouworryaboutIke，"saidtheConvener。"He’sabletolookafterhimself;besidesI’lllookhimupwhenIgetyoutosleep。

Comenow，"andheledhimintothetinybedroom。"Yougetintobed;

I’llbringyouacupofteaandyoucansleep。Noonewilldisturbyou，and，I’llwakeyouattherighttime，neverfear。"

"Idon’tthinkIamsleepy，"saidShock;butwheninafewminuteshisfriendcamebackwithhiscupofteahefoundShockinasleepsoprofoundthathehadnotthehearttowakehim。"Poorchap，poorchap！"saidtheConvener，lookingdownuponthestrong，ruggedface，nowsohaggard。"Thisisahardcountry！"

ForhoursShocklaydeadinsleep。BeforenightfalltheConvenerwenttolookupIke，andonhisreturnfoundhisgueststillasleep。

"Lethimsleep，itwilldohimgood，"hesaidtohiskind—heartedwife，whowouldhavewakenedShocktohavesupper。

"We’lllethimsleeptillananswercomestohiswire。"Lateatnighthewentdowntothetelegraphoffice。

"Yes，"repliedtheclerkinanswertohisenquiry，"there’sawireforMr。Macgregorjustcomein。Badnews，too，Iguess。"

TheConvenertookthemessageandread:"Yourmotherpassedawayinperfectpeacethisevening。Yourmessagebroughthergreatjoy。Shewishedmetosendthisreply:’TheLordismyShepherd;Ishallnotwant。Stayatyourpost，lad，tillHecalls:’HELEN。"

"’StayatyourposttillHecalls，’"readtheConveneragain。"A

greatsoulthat。Thatwordwilldohimgood。"

Hewasright。HefoundShockwaitingforhim，calm，expectant，andreadytobearwhateverlifemightbring，nordidhisfacechangeashereadthewireoverandoveragain。Heonlysaid:"Godisverygoodtous。Shewentawayinpeace，andshegotmywireandIhers。"

"Yes，"saidtheConvener，"Godisalwaysgood。Wesometimescannotseeit，but，"headded，"itwasagreatmatterthatyoursistercouldhavebeentherewithher。"

"Mysister？"saidShock。"Oh！"asuddenflushreddeninghispalecheek。"She’snotmysister——she’smy——she’sourfriend，yes，adearfriend。Itwouldbeagreatjoytomymothertohaveher。"

Therewasnosignofgriefinhisface，butagreatpeaceseemedtohavesettleduponhim。Longintothenighthetalkedovertheaffairsofhismissionfield，givinginresponsetothekeenquestionsofhisConvenerafullaccountoftheworkhehadbeencarryingon，openinguptheplanshehadmadeforfuturework。InparticularwasheanxioustoenlisttheConvener’ssympathyinhisschemeforareading—roomandhospitalatthePass。TheConvenershookhisheadattheplan。"Iagreewithyouentirely，"hesaid，"buttheCommittee，Ifear，willnotgiveyouagrantforahospital。Ifitwereachurchnow——"

"Well，"arguedShock，"itwillserveforachurch。"

"Youmaycountonmetodomybestforyou，"repliedtheConvener，"butIamnotsanguine。TheCommitteeareextremelycautiousandconservative。"

ButwhentheConvenercametoaskaboutthedifficultiesandtrialsofhislifehismissionarybecamesilent。Therewerenotrialsanddifficultiestospeakof，nomoreatleastthantherestofthepeoplehadtobear。Theywereallgoodtohim。

"That’sallright，"saidtheConvener，"buttherearedifficulties，nonetheless。Itisahardcountry，andsometimesitlaysburdensuponusalmostgreaterthanwecanbear。TherearethepoorMcIntyres，now，"hecontinued。"Howdidyoufindthem？"

"Verywell，"repliedShock。"But，indeed，Ididn’tnoticemuch。"

AndthentheConvenertoldhimofthestoryoftheirgreatgrief。