"I will go for him myself," said Marion, rejoicing at this sign of relenting, for since her illness Gerty had steadily refused either to see a minister or hear a word on the subject of religion. "I am sure he will come directly."
Mr. Landon came, and had a long interview with Gerty.
There was a great change in her after this. She was far more patient and easier to deal with, though often sad and silent for days together.
Bram came over and relieved Asahel in a great measure from business, so that he could give his time to his wife, and they spent many hours alone together. To him alone Gerty spoke of her religious experience. He told Marion that she was sometimes quite despairing, but at others she was able to lay hold on the hope set before her.
It was a sad time, and rather a hard one for Marion, who had most of the responsibility of housekeeping, and was very anxious to keep a comfortable home for Asahel. A year ago she would have failed utterly even if she had attempted the task, but now she gave her whole mind to the work, and on the whole succeeded remarkably well. It was good discipline for her, and kept her from falling into her old daydreaming habits, a temptation to which she was rather apt to give way over her painting or her sewing. She made mistakes enough in her housekeeping to keep her from being set up in her own conceit or thinking herself a model housekeeper. Asahel never complained, however, and hardly seemed to know whether he had anything to eat or not, and Bram thought all Marion's doings right because she did them.
It was a sad time, but it did not last long. The first week in July, Gerty seemed better; she sat up more, had a little appetite, and for the first time expressed a wish to get out of her room.
One pleasant afternoon Asahel carried her into the parlour and laid her on the sofa. Marion had taken great pains to arrange everything just as she knew Gerty liked it. A beautiful dish of flowers sent in by a neighbour was on the little table, and the garden was gay and sweet with roses and lilies. Gerty looked round with interest.
"How nice the room looks!" said she. "Marion, you must have taken a deal of care of everything."
"I have tried," said Marion.
Gerty was silent a while, and then began asking about one thing and another concerning the housekeeping. Marion answered all her questions, brought her the napkins and clothes that she might judge of the new girl's washing, and displayed the fine darning with which she had repaired a cut tablecloth.