She shook her head. "If father once makes up his mind, nothing turns him from it," she said. "And he has made up his mind."
"Was he at the funeral?"
"No, sir. He said he couldn't spare the time."
Alice had a class in the Sunday school, and she stayed to ask a question on some point that had puzzled her. The Vicar explained her little difficulty with clearness, and she tripped off smiling, only to make way for Mrs. Groates.
"Come in, Mrs. Groates, come in. I'm glad to see you," the Vicar said, with his heartiest welcome. "How are you getting on? Jack all right?"
"He is; thank you kindly, sir. And I've brought just half-a-crown for the lifeboat, and I wish it was ten times as much."
"So do I, Mrs. Groates, because that would show your husband's business to be prospering particularly well. However, I hope it does prosper. Of course you are a large party, and you have a good many expenses. Sit down, and tell me all about yourselves. Stop a minute; I'll note this down. 'Mrs. Groates, two and sixpence.' That's right. I didn't think your husband looking well the other day?"
"No, sir. Nor happy." Mrs. Groates spoke with emphasis.
"Sorry for that. I hope nothing is wrong—You are such a happy-looking woman yourself—"
"I'm glad to say I've always been blessed with good spirits. But Jim, he's more of an up-and-down sort; and it's been all down lately, not up. He don't and won't tell me why, and I thought I'd just mention it to you, sir, thinking maybe you might some day have a bit of a talk with him. If anything is gone wrong, he'd tell you, perhaps, when he won't tell me."