Luke sighed a sigh of relief.
"Then I needn't worry?"
"Certainly not. Put it right from your mind. It is only a child's nonsense."
And Luke did as he was asked and worried no more about her.
He left her to write some letters before going to bed, and Rachel sat working; but her thoughts were busy.
Although Gwen had talked a great deal of nonsense was there not a grain of truth in some of her words? "A woman can make a man what she wants him to be," she had said: she had evidently read this in a book, it had not come out of her own little head. Rachel supposed there was some truth in the words; and possibly she had been unwise herself in not insisting more that the attentions that had been shown her during her courtship should not be dropped now that they were man and wife. She was afraid that she had unwisely done things herself instead of asking Luke to do them, and then was surprised that he had lost the habit of waiting upon her. She had got in the way of waiting on him and of saving him all extra effort when he came in from his work in the parish.
She knew that in Luke's case it was often simply absentmindedness that prevented him seeing of what she was in need at the moment. Once buried in a book nothing would arouse him save her voice; or if he was in the midst of an argument with a fellow clergyman, he would quite unconsciously allow Rachel to help them both to tea though it meant rising from her seat. At times she had felt a little indignant at the two men sitting while she served them; but on the other hand if at her request he handed round the hot tea cake, he would stand with the plate in his hand talking, while the contents got cold, or would absently hold the kettle while Rachel watched in anxiety lest the water should pour out on to the carpet, or on to his foot. It was easier to do these things herself. She had not known that anyone notice these little omissions on Luke's part; but evidently Gwen had taken count of them at once.
"A woman can make a man what she wants him to be." Yes, but save in these few insignificant matters Luke was exactly what she wanted him to be, and in these small matters perhaps she had been at fault, not him. Gwen had opened her eyes; though she would not tell her so. Rachel felt that she had made it easy for him to neglect little home courtesies. When the child had gone she would behave somewhat differently.
Gwen came to breakfast next morning just as if nothing had occurred between her and her brother-in-law: and Luke, who had put away the thought of Rachel's health being affected by living in Trowsby, was too large-minded to bear any grudge to the girl for the audacious things she had said to him. He banished them from his mind, recognising the fact that Gwen was after all only a child, and would learn better by-and-bye.
Rachel, however, found her a little trying, as Gwen after breakfast, took her to task about more than one matter.