Back in the dining-room behind the rose-lined blue-velvet hangings Julia Cloud lingered and smiled over the way her two children were developing opinions and character. How splendid of them to take this stand! 187 And who was Jane Bristol? Assuredly she must be looked up and helped if that was the way the town felt about her, poor child!
“Well,” said Bryan in a business-like tone, “I’m secretary. Joe, you call that prayer committee together Thursday night at your house at half-past seven, and I’ll send a notice to each one. You make Jane Bristol chairman, and I’ll be on the committee; and I’ll go after her and take her home. Now, who else are you going to have on it?”
The president assented readily. He was one not used to taking the initiative, but he eagerly did as he was told when a good idea presented itself.
“We want you on it,” he said, nodding to Allison and then, looking shyly at Leslie, added, “And you?”
“Oh!” said Leslie, flushing in fright, “what would we have to do? I never prayed before anybody in my life. I’m not sure I even know how to pray, only just to say ‘Thank you’ to God sometimes. I think you could find somebody better.”
“We’ve got to have you this time,” said the president, shaking his head. “You needn’t pray if you don’t want to, but you must come and help us through.”
“But I couldn’t go and be a––a sort of slacker!” said Leslie, her cheeks quite beautifully red.
“That’s all right! You come!” said Bryan, looking solemnly at her.
When the visitors finally took themselves away, Allison, polite to the last, closed the door with a courteous “Good-night,” and then stood frowning at the fire.
Julia Cloud came softly into the room, and went and stood beside him with loving question in her eyes. He met her gaze with a new kind of hardness.