As the weeks and months went by without news of the missing vessel,this belief became almost a certainty.At the Come-Outer chapel,where Ezekiel Bassett now presided,prayers were offered for the son of their former leader.These prayers were not as fervent as they might have been,for Grace's nonattendance at meetings was causing much comment and a good deal of resentment.She came occasionally,but not often.I always said she was stuck-up and thought she was too good for the rest of us,remarked Sukey B.spitefully.'And,between you and me,pa says he thinks Nat Hammond would be one to uphold her in it.He wa'n't a bit spirituous and never experienced religion.If anything HAShappened to him,it's a punishment sent,that's what pa thinks.Those were gloomy days at the parsonage.Keziah said little concerning the topic of which all the village was talking,and John Ellery forebore to mention it.The housekeeper was as faithful as ever in the performance of her household duties,but her smile had gone and she was worn and anxious.The minister longed to express his sympathy,but Keziah had not mentioned Nat's name for months,not since he,Ellery,gave her the message intrusted to him by the captain before sailing.He would have liked to ask about Grace,for he knew Mrs.Coffin visited the Hammond home occasionally,but this,too,he hesitated to do.He heard from others that the girl was bearing the suspense bravely,that she refused to give up hope,and was winning the respect of all the thinking class in Trumet by her courage and patience.Even the most bigoted of the Regulars,Captain Daniels and his daughter excepted of course,had come to speak highly of her.She's a spunky girl,declared Captain Zeb,with emphasis.There's nothing of the milk-sop and cry-baby about her.She's fit to be a sailor's wife,and I only hope Nat's alive to come back and marry her.He was a durn good feller,too--savin'
your presence,Mr.Ellery--and if he was forty times a Come-Outer I'd say the same thing.I'm 'fraid he's gone,though,poor chap.
As good a seaman as he was would have fetched port afore this if he was atop of water.As for Gracie,she's a brick,and a lady,every inch of her.My old girl went down t'other day to call on her and that's the fust Come-Outer she's been to see sence there was any.
Why don't you go see her,too,Mr.Ellery?'Twould be a welcome change from Zeke Bassett and his tribe.Go ahead!it would be the Almighty's own work and the society'd stand back of you,all them that's wuth considerin',anyhow.This was surprising advice from a member of the Regular and was indicative of the changed feeling in the community,but the minister,of course,could not take it.He had plunged headlong into his church work,hoping that it and time would dull the pain of his terrible shock and disappointment.It had been dulled somewhat,but it was still there,and every mention of her name revived it.
One afternoon Keziah came into his study,where he was laboring with his next Sunday sermon,and sat down in the rocking-chair.
She had been out and still wore her bonnet and shawl.
John,she said,I ask your pardon for disturbin'you.I know you're busy.Ellery laid down his pen.Never too busy to talk with you,Aunt Keziah,he observed.What is it?I wanted to ask if you knew Mrs.Prince was sick?No.Is she?I'm awfully sorry.Nothing serious,I hope?No,I guess not.Only she's got a cold and is kind of under the weather.I thought p'r'aps you'd like to run up and see her.She thinks the world and all of you,'cause you was so good when she was distressed about her son.Poor old thing!she's had a hard time of it.I will go.I ought to go,of course.I'm glad you reminded me of it.Yes.I told her you hadn't meant to neglect her,but you'd been busy fussin'with the fair and the like of that.That was all.I'll go right away.Have you been there to-day?No.I just heard that she was ailin'from Didama Rogers.Didama said she was all but dyin',so I knew she prob'ly had a little cold,or somethin'.If she was really very bad,Di would have had her buried by this time,so's to be sure her news was ahead of anybody else's.I ain't been up there,but I met her t'other mornin'.Didama?
No;Mrs.Prince.She'd come down to see Grace.Oh.
Yes.The old lady's been awful kind and sympathizin'since--since this new trouble.It reminds her of the loss of her own boy,Ipresume likely,and so she feels for Grace.John,what do they say around town about--about HIM?Captain Hammond?
Yes.
The minister hesitated.Keziah did not wait for him to answer.
I see,she said slowly.Do they all feel that way?Why,if you mean that they've all given up hope,I should hardly say that.Captain Mayo and Captain Daniels were speaking of it in my hearing the other day and they agreed that there was still a chance.A pretty slim one,though,they cal'lated,didn't they?Well,they were--were doubtful,of course.There was the possibility that he had been wrecked somewhere and hadn't been picked up.They cited several such cases.The South Pacific is full of islands where vessels seldom touch,and he and his crew may be on one of these.Yes.They might,but I'm afraid not.Ah,hum!She rose and was turning away.Ellery rose also and laid his hand on her arm.
Aunt Keziah,he said,I'm very sorry.I respected Captain Hammond,in spite of--of--in spite of everything.I've tried to realize that he was not to blame.He was a good man and I haven't forgotten that he saved my life that morning on the flats.And I'm so sorry for YOU.She did not look at him.
John,she answered,with a sigh,sometimes I think you'd better get another housekeeper.What?Are you going to leave me?YOU?
Oh,'twouldn't be because I wanted to.But it seems almost as if there was a kind of fate hangin'over me and that,she smiled faintly,as if 'twas sort of catchin',as you might say.
