Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

"Thank you," said Rachel. "I can quite do everything myself. Yes, I know the Bishop is particularly fond of flowers and notices them more than anything else."

"Well, then you can arrange them while I lay the table," said Mrs. Greville drawing off her gloves. "I know where everything is to be found, and you need not pay any attention to me, my dear."

Mrs. Greville in the kindness of her heart was perfectly unconscious that her services were neither required nor wished for, and busied herself about the house. When Rachel, who always felt a puppet in her hands, mildly suggested that it might be better to let Polly arrange the table, as it would disappoint her not to do so, Mrs. Greville remarked:

"The great thing is that it should be laid correctly and Polly will have to get over her disappointment. Perhaps next time she will be able to do it. But this first time it is as well that some one who really knows should undertake it."

Rachel supposed that Mrs. Greville had never entertained a Bishop before, as she was in such a state of excitement over it, and evidently was nervous lest her daughter-in-law should disgrace her and her son. Rachel understood now how her husband could scarcely have helped inviting her to lunch under the circumstances. It would, without doubt, have pained her and disappointed her terribly to have been left out.

But to Rachel it was almost more than she could bear. She had looked forward to a quiet happy time with her father's best friend. To make such a fuss over him was perfectly unnecessary. She wanted to show him her little house, and to assure him that she was trying to follow out his fatherly advice. Now she felt that all was altered.

She saw that even Polly felt the hurrying and exciting influence in the house. The girl was looking worried and disappointed as Mrs. Greville called her hither and thither telling her to do this or that, and not leaving her a moment's peace. Her face was crimson and its expression one full of anxiety. She was no longer enjoying running about at her mistress's behest, and entering into all the pleasure shown by her at the coming of her father's best friend, (for Rachel had informed Polly of many things about her home life that she knew would interest her faithful and devoted little maid), but she was straining every nerve that things should be properly done for the arrival of a very grand gentleman who would notice every little mistake she made.

Besides, what worried the girl was the fact that her own dear Mistress seemed to have lost her good spirits since the early morning. The sun had gone out of her face; and disappointment and chagrin had taken its place.

Mrs. Greville had a very kind heart and if she had had the faintest idea of the disappointment she was giving to her daughter-in-law, she would have put on her gloves and disappeared at once. But she was not sensitive to her environment. Though she noticed that Rachel was graver than usual, she supposed the gravity was caused by anxiety that all should go well, and congratulated herself that she had come in to help so early in the morning, as her daughter-in-law seemed rather helpless and worried.

The more Mrs. Greville bustled about, the more lifeless Rachel became. All her energy had evaporated. She felt there was nothing for her to do as all was being done by her competent mother-in-law.