My father looked up, and said, ‘Griffith, I am surprised at you.’ He was constrained to mutter some apology, and I believe Ellen privately begged my mother’s pardon, owning her to have been quite right; but, by the dear girl, the wonderful cascade and narrow gorge were seen through swollen eyes. And poor Clarence must have had a fine time of it when Griffith had to ride off with him faute de mieux.
All was cleared off, however, when we met again, for Griff’s storms were very fleeting, and Ellen treated him as if she had to make her own peace with him. She sacrificed her own enjoyment of Exeter Cathedral to go about with him when he had had enough of it, but on Sunday afternoon she altogether declined to walk with him till after the second service. He laughed at her supposed passion for sacred music, and offered to wait with her to hear the anthem from the nave. ‘No,’ she said, ‘that would be amusing ourselves instead of worshipping.’
‘We’ve done our devoir in that way already,’ said Griff. ‘Paid our dues.’
‘One can’t,’ cried Ellen, with an eager look. ‘One longs to do all the more when He has just let us have such a taste of His beautiful things.’
‘One, perhaps, when one is a little saint,’ returned Griff.
‘Oh don’t, Griff! I’m not that; but you know every one wants all the help and blessing that can be got. And then it is so delightful!’
He gave a long whistle. ‘Every one to his taste,’ he said; ‘especially you ladies.’
He did come to the Cathedral with us, but he had more than half spoilt this last Sunday. Did he value her for what was best in her, or was her influence raising him?
CHAPTER XXVI.
C. MORBUS, ESQ.
‘Forgot were hatred, wrongs, and fears,
The plaintive voice alone she hears,
Sees but the dying man.’Scott.