“Because there is a cousin of his wife, now out of a charge, whom he hopes to get here in your place. That is the true explanation. He has deceived you as to the state of feeling in the parish.”
“Brother Ainsworth, you have relieved my mind and lifted from it a heavy burden. The deacon gave me to understand the feeling was general.”
“Moreover,” continued Mr. Ainsworth, “he wants to get hold of your house and let it to his cousin, if he can manage to get him installed as your successor.”
“Then you don’t think I ought to resign?”
“Certainly not. We don’t propose to have the deacon run the parish.”
Two days afterward Deacon Crane called again.
“Well, Brother Fenwick,” he said, “have you decided to resign?”
“No, Deacon Crane, not yet. Brother Ainsworth tells me that the great majority of the people favor my remaining.”
“He is in error,” said the deacon, tartly. “You are making a great mistake. And I want to say that I shall have to foreclose that mortgage. I want the money this day week.”
“I doubt if I can obtain it so soon,” said the minister, troubled.