[HIS GREAT REWARD.]
CHAPTER I.
sharp ring at the door-bell made Mrs. Duncan start from her seat, with the exclamation, “I really believe I was nodding!” Slipping out of the room she said in a whisper to the maid who passed on her way to the hall door, “The doctor is out if it is anyone to see him, Janet, and Mr. Magnus will not be in for half an hour yet;” then quietly and quickly returned to her seat by the fire, and picked up her knitting, over which she had so nearly dozed off to sleep.
A cheery voice asking if Mrs. Duncan was at home made her look up with a pleased smile of expectation on her sweet face, and in another moment the door opened to admit a silver-haired old gentleman, with kindly blue eyes and a most benevolent expression.
“Mr. Mellis!” announced Janet, and withdrew.
“How good of you to come and see me, dear friend!” exclaimed Mrs. Duncan, as she shook hands with her visitor; “and on such a day too! I declare it makes me shiver to look out of the window even.”
“I suppose that is why you draw your curtains so early, then,” replied the Rector of St. Jude’s, as he settled himself in the comfortable chair his hostess pushed towards him. “Well, I must say you look cosy enough in here,” surveying the pretty lamp-lit room with its ‘homey’ look (if I may coin a word).
It was a most inviting room, pretty enough for anything, yet totally devoid of that stiff starchy look one so often sees in drawing-rooms which are scrupulously kept spotless, but not used.