Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

"I expect you are mistaken about that," he said, "It's very easy to get fancies of that sort into one's head."

"Oh no it is not fancy. Anyhow the older people do not like or appreciate me. They think I am no help to Luke; but he won't give me any work to do. I expect it's his mother's fault as she thinks I am incapable. It worries me very much, as I want them to like me for Luke's sake. Then I sometimes wonder if it is anything to do with my dress. I see Mrs. Greville's face change sometimes when I put on one of my specially pretty dresses."

The Bishop held her at arm's length and looked at her. Certainly she was one of the best dressed women in the palace garden that day, but it was all very pretty and becoming.

"Perhaps you are a little smart for the wife of the Vicar of Trowsby," he said reluctantly. "It is very pretty, but in a parish where there are so many poor, it might be wise to dress in a somewhat less luxurious fashion."

"It's part of my wedding trousseau," said Rachel regretfully, "and I do love pretty clothes; perhaps they are my temptation."

"Perhaps they are," said the Bishop, smiling kindly.

"Anyhow when these are worn out the temptation will be over as I shall have no money to spend on clothes. I am not sure that we shall not be eligible for Gifts from the 'Poor Pious Clergy Society'," she added laughing. "Mrs. Greville does not seem to think we have a penny to spare. I hate having to think of every penny; it makes one inclined to be miserly and mean."

"No; it's the poor who are most generous. Don't wish to be rich; by far the nicest people are those who are not endowed with this world's goods. It is far harder to persuade the rich man to give of his wealth than the really poor widow of her mite. I am glad that you have not too much of this world's goods."

"I should love to be rich, or quite comfortably off as we were at home. I never thought of taking care of the pence in those days, nor indeed of the pounds either. Now I am always thinking 'can we afford it,' and find myself choosing the thing that costs threepence rather than threepence halfpenny. It seems to me horrid and cramping."

"Not nearly so bad as if you spent five pounds carelessly, when your poor neighbour had only five shillings to spend. You will find that if you do not allow yourself to grow miserly, you will be the richer for being poorer."