[CHAPTER XX.]
NO LADY HEAD OF THE PARISH.
And now began a very strenuous life for Rachel.
Mrs. Greville had been as good as a curate to Luke; and she was now laid aside unable to do any work at all. She lay thinking and worrying over the fact that she was no longer any good to her son. The worry did not help her to recover from her illness. In fact the doctor told Rachel that so long as her husband's mother allowed herself to be consumed with anxiety she could not hope to get strong. Was there no-one, he asked, who could help in the matter? Surely there were some ladies in the parish who could divide the work between them?
Rachel knew that no more workers were to be had. In fact several had given up their districts. They so entirely disagreed with the Vicar in his determination not to allow the parish hall to be used for whist drives and dancing, that they felt out of sympathy with him, and had left the Church.
Those who remained were already too full of work to undertake anything further.
Luke came home from seeing his mother one day, in the depths of despair.
"She is worrying herself to death," he said, "over the Mother's Meeting and the Sunday School." Then he looked across at his wife, who was playing "Dickory, dickory dock!" with the baby. Her face had been full of love and happiness, but at his words the smile faded. She knew what was coming.
"I suppose," he said, then he hesitated.