Rachel felt a little uneasy.
"But of course you would like a choir if you could get one," she said.
"I don't think so," he answered.
"But," said Rachel, a little breathlessly, "if some girls were willing to come and sing you would not object, would you?"
Luke had been watching the rain which was coming down in torrents, but at Rachel's question he turned round sharply towards her.
"I should very much object," he said rising from the table. "It would frustrate any little good that may come of the strike. I hope no-one intends to fill their places."
Rachel turned pale. A sudden mad idea of going round to every girl she had called on that afternoon and asking them not to come crossed her mind, in the hope that Luke would never find out what she had done. But she put the suggestion away at once, not only because to do so in such a short time as she had at her disposal was impossible, but because it would be a cowardly thing to do. She must confess at once what she had been doing.
"I'm afraid you will be vexed," she said looking him straight in the face. "But I have got a choir of girls together and they will be at the church to-night."
Luke did not speak but stood looking at his wife, a look that Rachel did not understand. But it had the effect of making her say steadily, and with dignity:
"I did it for your sake Luke. I knew how much you would feel the loss of your choir."