"Why, John!" she exclaimed, "what is the matter with you? Have you been crying? Your face is awfully smudgy."
"Sorry," I replied, "I wasn't crying but I'm on very particular business and I hadn't time to wash." I went at it, hammer and tongs, then—"It's about Harry. He wants to know if you'll have him home again."
Margery looked just puzzled.
"Harry! Harry who?"
"Your Harry," I replied, manfully. "The Bishop's Harry." And I poured out the whole story of my meeting with Harry and his passionate desire to come home. All the while, I anxiously watched Margery's face for signs of joy or disapproval. It was pale and still as the face of a white moth, but when she spoke her words fell on my budding hopes like cold rain. She put her hands on my shoulders and said earnestly:
"You must tell him not to come, John. It would be such a great pity! The Bishop is quite, quite used to being without him now, and it would upset him dreadfully to try to forgive Harry. I don't believe he could. And he and I are so contented. Harry would be very disturbing—you see, he's such a restless young man, John; and he hasn't been at all kind to his father. He's done—things—"
"But you don't know him!" I interrupted. "He's splendid!"
"I don't want to know him," Margery persisted. "He's a very—"
I could let this thing go no further. Here was another woman who must be drowned out. I raised my voice, therefore, and almost shouted—
"Well, you've got to know him! He's coming home tomorrow night. At seven. He wants his bed got ready. So there."