She understood me, and she was natural thereafter.
Now perhaps I chafed in spirit at this time because I heard no word from friend Hicks. I am convinced at this present moment that had he felt it borne in upon him to indite me some words of homely comfort, I should have been gratified exceedingly. But his mind lay otherwise presumably, for no word came for a week.
Once during that week I saw friend Jordan walking wearisomely along the passage-way of friend Afton's house. She gave me a quick look as she saw me ascending the stair. "Ishmael!" she said.
"Nay," I responded: "no man's hand is against me, nor is mine against any man."
"And yet I am Hagar weeping in the wilderness."
"I pity thee."
"You are a Quaker."
"I am a Friend."
"And you believe in God?"
"Yea, verily. The voice of the Lord in the vineyard calleth me ever."