Of no account

by Ruth Lamb

Mrs. Drummond's sweet face was so irresistible that again her husband bent his tall head to kiss it. The flush that overspread her cheeks was as bright as that on a girl's, but the colour faded too quickly. It was Robert Drummond's greatest trouble that his wife was not strong. Apart from this, no wedded couple could well be happier.

"Is Mr. Kennedy here?" asked the manager.

"No, but he will be before six o'clock. He must leave again by seven, to be ready for the service. So far, he says, few men have been at the room, though many women have attended. To-night, he hopes it will be the other way, as the men have their half-holiday, and could well spend a portion of it at the mission service."

"If they would. But it is not easy to get them to think so. I have been trying hard to enlist one recruit, but I fear with little success."

Here the children put in their claim to the father's attention, and, as usual, not in vain. Mr. Drummond and the small people were soon in the midst of a romp, and it was hard to say whether they, he, or the mother who looked on, enjoyed it the most.

Then the youngsters were sent off to the nursery, and just after their departure, Mr. Kennedy arrived, and tea was brought in.

During the meal they said little. The mission preacher was tired, and needed to rest both voice and body before the evening's work should begin. But knowing Mr. Drummond's wish to be of use to the large body of workmen placed under his orders, he was most anxious to hear whether he had made any progress. He listened with deep interest to all the manager had to tell, and especially to his account of the recent conversation with Adam Livesey.

Mrs. Drummond's sympathies were also enlisted, especially by what Adam had said about his wife, and the change wrought in pretty Maggie. "You would be just the one to comfort the poor fellow, Robert," she said. "You could enter into his feelings as few men could. He is the same as that silent, rugged-looking workman about whom you told me, as having such a strange attraction for you. It was singular you should meet with him so unexpectedly, and have a chance to talk quietly about so many things."

"It was. We got on very well until I mentioned Sunday, and asked how he spent it. However, we parted good friends, and I have broken the ice between manager and man."

"You will not let it close up again," said Mr. Kennedy, and then he rose to take leave of his hostess.