Meredith's face quivered. He had had a terrible hour alone in his
study on the night Jem and Jerry had gone to town. But he answered
quietly.
"Whatever I felt, it could not alter my belief--my assurance that a
country whose sons are ready to lay down their lives in her defence will
win a new vision because of their sacrifice."
"You do mean it, Parson. I can always tell when people mean what they
say. It's a gift that was born in me. Makes me a terror to most parsons,
that! But I've never caught you yet saying anything you didn't mean. I'm
always hoping I will--that's what reconciles me to going to church.
It'd be such a comfort to me--such a weapon to batter Ellen here with
when she tries to civilize me. Well, I'm off over the road to see Ab.
Crawford a minute. The gods be good to you all."
"The old pagan!" muttered Susan, as Norman strode away. She did not care
if Ellen Douglas did hear her. Susan could never understand why fire did
not descend from heaven upon Norman Douglas when he insulted ministers
the way he did. But the astonishing thing was Mr. Meredith seemed really
to like his brother-in-law.
Rilla wished they would talk of something besides war. She had heard
nothing else for a week and she was really a little tired of it. Now
that she was relieved from her haunting fear that Walter would want to
go it made her quite impatient. But she supposed--with a sigh--that
there would be three or four months of it yet.
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