"What a good idea," said Mrs. Stone. "But I don't see how you can go round to them all as they live in different parts of the town and it is beginning to rain."
"I don't mind the rain, but I do mind that Luke should find himself without a choir to-night, and I mean to get one together."
"Well then you must let me lend you my cloak," said Mrs. Stone, amused at the determination in Rachel's voice. She saw her in quite a new light this afternoon.
The rain came down in torrents as Rachel made her way to different parts of the town, but she hardly noticed it. She was happy in the thought that at last she was really helping Luke with his work, and looked forward to seeing his pleasure and surprise.
Some of those to whom she went had never seen her before. They did not all belong to St Mark's congregation. But Rachel's charming personality and persuasive ways won their hearts at once and not one refused her help. In fact they quite entered into her plan and seemed keen to do what they could in the matter. When she had found twelve who were willing to form the choir she returned home. It was only then that she realised how wet and tired she was. But the happy consciousness that she was helping Luke made her hurry home in good spirits.
She was a little later than she thought and she found from the fact that his hat was in the hall that Luke was already back from the Sunday School and in his study.
"Polly," said Rachel, as she looked into the kitchen on her way upstairs, "lay the table for tea and put the kettle on. I shall be downstairs in a few minutes." As she went upstairs she was wondering when she would tell Luke of the surprise that awaited him. She determined not to tell him till after tea. She liked the feeling of anticipation.
"You have been out," said Luke as he sat down to the tea table. "Did you get very wet?"
"Yes, I got soaked. I hope you did not."
He told her no, as when it was raining the hardest, he took refuge in his mother's rooms as she had a cold and had not been able to get to the school that afternoon.