"Lor, miss! you take my breath away!" exclaimed Mrs. Hulver expressing discreet astonishment.
"Like your husband in his difficulty, it was the sweeper who proved his friend. He took him to some hiding place, and threw his cap down the well to deceive his people and put them off the scent. When the excitement of his mysterious disappearance was over, the man contrived to smuggle him out of the State of Chirakul into British territory, where he is quite safe. At the mission house another surprise awaited Mr. Ananda. His wife managed to escape and find her way to Mr. Alderbury's station. I thought you would be pleased to hear the news," concluded Eola with reproach in her voice.
"So I am, miss," was the warm response. "I am very glad to know that he is safe. He wasn't safe from the spite of wicked men as long as he remained in Chirapore. His only hiding place was the sweeper's house where no man of caste would venture. As William—that was my first—used to say: 'A rat that has but one hole is soon caught.' Mr. Ananda will need no hiding place as long as he stays with Mr. Alderbury."
"I have some more news for you, Mrs. Hulver. Mr. Alderbury was so much impressed by what you said about a house being no home without a woman in it, that he has asked me to make a home for him of his house—and I have consented."
"There, now, if I haven't gone and made a mess of it after all!" exclaimed Mrs. Hulver, more than a little disturbed. "As William—that was my second—used to say: 'An ounce of sense is worth a pound of wit; better slip with the foot than the tongue.' To think that my foolish tongue which must need sharpen itself at his expense should have put it into his head to ask you to do that! I should never be reconciled to your marrying a missionary, miss; not if I lived to be a hundred!"
"Don't worry about it; it's all right; I am not going to marry a missionary," said Eola.
"Not marry him! miss! whatever do you mean?" cried Mrs. Hulver in horror. "You can't keep house for a man except as his housekeeper or his wife—that is to say, if you have right-minded principles. As William—that was my second—used to say: 'Bad as the best may be; it is better to be poisoned in your blood than in your principles.'"
Eola reassured her. "It is quite all right, I am going to marry him, and you are going to take care of the doctor for me."
"Then I don't understand what you mean, miss, about not marrying a missionary," said Mrs. Hulver, completely puzzled.
"Mr. Alderbury is giving up missionary work. He has been offered a bishopric."