Luke's wife

by Evelyn R. Garratt

The choir men turned up the following Sunday. They were really attached to the Church and to their Vicar, and found the concert did not make up for either; and Luke put the whole tiresome incident out of his mind, in fact it was crowded out by the hundred and one things that he had to do and think about.

But Rachel did not forget quickly. She had been so shocked and astonished to find how easily she had felt hard and cold towards Luke when he disappointed her, that it had frightened her, knowing that in all probability it would be easier still the second time. She determined that there should be no second time; but she did not forget. It was borne in upon her that she had idealised Luke, and had been blind to his imperfections, save in a few small matters, that though they worried her were too insignificant to count. Faults, though apparently very few compared to her own, were there; and in order to avoid the constant sparring she often noticed going on between other husbands and wives, she realised that she must be careful to give no occasion for it herself in future. She was determined that what seemed to be an ideally happy marriage should not become prosaic and loveless, which would inevitably be the case if love were strained by constant friction. It should not be her fault if they ever swelled the crowd of unsatisfactory and unhappy married couples.

When Rachel went the next morning to enquire after Mrs. Greville's cold, she was agreeably surprised at the welcome she received.

"So you filled the empty choir benches last night," she said, after answering Rachel's questions as to her health. "I have heard all about it from Mrs. Stone."

"I hope it won't prevent the men from returning," answered Rachel, flushing at the remembrance of what it had cost her. "It may I fear offend them. I didn't think of that possibility at the time. I am afraid I was rather rash."

"On the contrary. I was delighted to hear of it, and it will do the men good, I am sure. I hope Luke was properly grateful," she added laughing.

"He was a little anxious about the consequences of my action," said Rachel. "I do hope it won't have done any harm."

"Stuff and nonsense, of course it won't. It's the best lesson the choir could have had. And I think it was very plucky of you, particularly as the rain came down in torrents. You must have got drenched."

"I did; but it has done me no harm; and I was bent on getting the girls."

"After all," ruminated Mrs. Greville when Rachel had left, "there seems to be the making of a good parish worker in that child. She will never neglect her duty, anyhow, because of a shower of rain, which many do now-a-days. I shouldn't wonder if one day Luke will find her really useful."