He spoke as though she knew him quite well, and would understand perfectly all the small disasters to which he was prone.
“Oh, well,” she said, still offering consolation, “Of course, a man couldn’t be expected to know how hard it is to get any kind of wool these days. Why, the Red Cross Committee has even sent over to Winter’s Gap to see if they can’t get some homespun. Winter’s Gap is in the back part of the county away from the railroad, where some of the old folks still spin,” she explained.
“Is that so?” he said with interest. People were not usually interested in Julie’s small remarks. “Well, I reckon I must be going,” he added, conscious now of Maida’s severe eyes upon them. He made an uncertain gesture toward his hat and turned away. As he raised his arm, Julie caught sight of a rip in his sleeve.
“I don’t see why in the name of goodness that woman can’t keep him mended up!” her thoughts ejaculated angrily.
VI
The following Sunday after service, Julie was formally presented to Mr. and Mrs. Bixby.
She had gone to church in an agony of apprehension. Would Brother Seabrook call on her again to pray? Or did he know now that she was afraid? And did everybody else know? The thought made her feel like an outcast, yet she was so terrified that she would have liked to go to Brother Seabrook before church and beg him not to call upon her. She pictured herself doing it; she even made up in her mind the words with which to clothe her request; but in the end she could not bring herself to do it. Instead, she went late and slipped into a back pew. He did not call upon her, but all through the service she suffered an agony of dread, and when it was over, and she rose with the rest to leave, she felt as though every eye was fixed on her in contempt.
Outside the church she encountered a little group of people who were being introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Bixby. Mrs. Sam Wicket had taken upon herself the responsibility of presenting the strangers to the congregation.
“Miss Rose, make you acquainted with Mis’ Bixby,” she said, catching Julie by the arm as she came down the steps, and holding her firmly before the other, as though she might otherwise escape.
“Miss Rose, pleased to meet you,” the newcomer said; and Julie found herself looking up into the face of Elizabeth Bixby, while their hands touched for a moment.