“But,” said she, “she will make a P.P.C. call.”
“A what?” said I; for I did not know what P.P.C. meant.
“Ask her,” replied she; “I dare not trust myself to quote French in full now.”
I had begun to thank Mr. Barrie, when he said gravely, “Mr. Martin, I greatly desire that there shall be family worship in every house in the parish, and I impress this on all intending young housekeepers; so you will kindly take the service for me to-night.” And without waiting for a reply, he moved towards the handle of the bell, and was pulling it (it was a little bone barrel at the end of a bit of green cord), saying, “We’ll call Bell in,” when I put my hand on his, and said excitedly, “Mr. Barrie! please, Mr. Barrie, do excuse me,—pray, don’t ask me to-night, please don’t!” for the sudden call and circumstances made me quite nervous.
Mrs. Barrie kindly came to my relief by wishing me a hearty good-night, and saying, “Mr. Martin may have another call to make to-night, my dear.”
Mr. Barrie followed me to the lobby, and said he hoped I would excuse his rather hasty invitation to conduct family worship; he had forgotten the apostolic injunction, “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” Then, taking me warmly by the hand, he said, “I rejoice with you to-night at the step you are taking; it is not only judeecious, but promises to be a very happy one for yourselves and your circle. But pray remember the ‘Nisi Dominus frustra’ of your college days,—‘Except the Lord do build the house, they labour in vain that build it.’” There was another firm shake of the hand as we parted, and I heard his voice saying something about taking care of the slippery roads, as I was “some other body’s property now.”
CHAPTER III.
THE MARRIAGE AND THE HOME-COMING.
“We’re a’ noddin’,
Nid, nid, noddin’,