Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

"She was not a surprise to me," said a friend of Mrs. Greville's. "For I gathered from hints of the Vicar's mother that she was quite incapable. Not that she does not like her, and is thankful that she is devoted to her son, but she wishes he had chosen another kind of girl for his wife."

"Mrs. Greville," said Mrs. Stone, in a voice that all could hear, "I'm delighted with your daughter-in-law. She is so sunny and amusing. She will do us all good."

Mrs. Greville smiled with pleasure but shook her head a little.

"She is very young," she said, "only nineteen, and it will, I fear, take a long time before she settles down to undertake the responsibilities of being head of the parish."

"But," said Mrs. Stone, "surely there is no need to take that position yet. We have you and could not have anyone better. Let her have a little more time before being weighed down with the needs of a parish. She is full of fun and vitality, and should not have too much put upon her all at once. Let her take up the duties gradually; it is not as if she had been brought up to it."

Mrs. Greville sighed audibly.

Meanwhile Rachel hurried home. She had not known that there was a chance of her husband coming back to tea, and was delighted with the prospect. She felt happy, and a little elated, hoping that she had made a good impression on the working party. Mrs. Stone had been particularly nice to her, and so had one or two others. At the same time she could not forget the grave face of a lady who sat near enough to hear all the fun and nonsense she had been talking. This lady had not once looked up from her work, and had actually shaken her head over one or two of Rachel's remarks. The remembrance of her and the look of evident surprise on the faces of others rather weighed upon her spirits as she neared home. Had she talked too much? Had she been frivolous? She hoped not. She wanted to help Luke and not to hinder him, and she could not forget Mrs. Greville's words, about the necessity of the Vicar's wife setting an example to the parish.

Her face was a little grave as she opened the dining-room door, but the sight of her husband's smile of welcome as he looked up from the letter he was writing, cheered her.

"I did not stop to tea," he said, "as I have to write some important letters before the choir practice this evening, I know you won't mind me not talking."

Rachel ran upstairs to take off her hat and then busied herself in getting the tea. So he was going out again this evening! She was disappointed. However, she congratulated herself that she had him to tea.