Father Waite sprang to his feet and threw an arm about the doctor. “We are more than that, Doctor,” he whispered. “We are brothers. And in reality we are both, here and now, beloved children of God.”
Doctor Siler bowed. Then he nodded to the others, and took his departure. As he passed the piano Carmen rose and seized his hand.
“You know, Doctor, that we love you, don’t you?”
“Your love,” he murmured, as he bent over her hand, “is from the Christ. Nay, it is the Christ himself among us!”
He would have said more, but his voice broke. Then he went out.
When Hitt, Reverend Moore, and Doctor Morton had left, Haynerd, who had remained for a moment to speak to Father Waite, turned to the Beaubien.
“Madam,” he said, “Mr. Hitt is a remarkable man. He is conducting a remarkable newspaper. But––” He stopped and 147 looked at Carmen. “Well, if I mistake not, his quietness this evening indicated his belief that this might be our last meeting for some time.”
“Why, Ned?”
Haynerd shook his head dubiously. Then, abruptly:
“Telephone me, Carmen, if anything of interest comes up to-morrow in Avon.”