“Why ...” she hesitated, ashamed of her womanish fears.
“An excellent reason!” he laughed. “No, madam; I shall take no one with me but my good angel. My buggy holds but two. Good-night. Sleep soundly, and God bless you!”
She stood with her lips slightly parted, watching him earnestly, as if fearful of losing some slight word or glance; but his cheerful talk woke no smile in her face.
He would not appear to notice anything unusual in her manner, and was going out, when she stopped him.
“Give me your blessing, dear, before you go,” she whispered, and fell on her knees before him; and, when he had given it, she rose and tried to smile.
The priest was disturbed. “Don’t you feel well to-night, mother?” he asked.
“Yes, quite well,” she replied gently. “Perhaps I am foolish to be so nervous about your going. It seems a lonely drive. Go now, or you will be late.”
She followed him to the door, and stood there till she saw him come out of the church, step into his buggy, and drive away.
“Good-night! good-night!” she said, listening till the last sound of his carriage-wheels died into stillness; then, breathing a prayer for his safety, she went back to her own room.
Jane had cleared away the table, drawn the curtains, and lighted a lamp, and had gone down to her company in the kitchen.