第15章 IN WHICH KEZIAH ASSUMES A GUARDIANSHIP(4)

I remember--Mercy on us!that was in meetin'.Meetin's diff'rent.All they could say to you then was how much they liked your sermon.They say that to every minister that comes,no matter how they may pick him to pieces afterwards.But here they can ask you questions;about how you came to come here and what you think of it far's you've got,and what your views are on certain points in the creed.Likewise,who your folks were and whether they was well off,and a few things like that.Then they'll want to see what kind of clothes you wear and--Whew!Ellery whistled.You're unfolding a pleasant prospect for me,I must say.Am I supposed to be catechized on all of my private affairs?Of course!A minister hasn't got any private affairs;he's a public character.There!she laughed,as she poured the coffee,I mustn't discourage you.But don't you see that every mother's son--and,for that matter,every daughter and children's child unto the third and fourth generation--feel that,so long as they pay pew rent or put a cent in the collection,they own a share in you.And we always keep a watch on our investments down this way.That's the Yankee shrewdness you read so much about,I guess.The minister absently played with his spoon.

I'm afraid you're a cynic,he said.

No,no,I ain't.Though sometimes,considerin'everything,I feel as though I had excuse enough if I wanted to belong to that tribe.But you're young.You mustn't mind my sayin'that;if you was old,of course,I wouldn't talk about ages.But you are young and this is your first church.So you must start right.I'm no cynic,bless you.I've got trust in human nature left--most kinds of human nature.If I hadn't,I'd have more money,I s'pose.Perhaps you've noticed that those who trust a good deal are usually poor.It's all right,Mr.Ellery;you go and take your walk.And I'll walk into that pantry closet.It'll be a good deal like walkin' into the Slough of Despond,but Christian came out on the other side and I guess likely I will,if the supply of soapsuds holds out.When,promptly at ten o'clock,the minister returned from his walk,he found Mrs.Rogers waiting in the sitting room.It is a prime qualification of an alert reporter to be first on the scene of sensation.Didama was seldom beaten.Mr.Ellery's catechism began.Before it was over Keziah opened the door to admit Miss Pepper and her brother.Kyanwas nervous and embarrassed in the housekeeper's presence.Lavinia was a glacier,moving majestically and freezing as it moved.Keziah,however,was not even touched by the frost;she greeted the pair cordially,and begged them to take off their things.It was dinner time before the catechizers departed.The catechized came to the table with an impaired appetite.He looked troubled.

Don't let it worry you,Mr.Ellery,observed Keziah calmly.Ithink I can satisfy you.Honest and true,I ain't half as bad as you might think.The minister looked more troubled than before;also surprised.

Why,Mrs.Coffin!he cried.Could you hear--No,no!I couldn't hear nothin'in that closet except my own opinion on dirt and dust.But if I was as deaf as the man that set on the powder keg and dropped his pipe ashes into it,it wouldn't have made any difference.The man said after they picked him up that they needn't have been so rough,he'd have moved without bein' pushed if they'd have made signs they wanted to use the keg.And if I was out in the next lot I'd have known what you was listenin' to in that sittin'room.They hinted that they were real sorry for you,but 'twasn't any of THEIR doin's.The parish committee,bein' just men,was apt to make mistakes in certain matters.Of course everything MIGHT be well enough,and if you wa'n't TOO particular about cookin'and so on,why--Anyhow,you mustn't think that THEYwere criticisin'.'Twas only that they took an interest and--That was about it,wasn't it?

Mrs.Coffin,I--I hope you don't think I paid any attention to their remarks--of that kind,I mean.Honestly,I did my best to stop them.I said--Man alive!I'm not worried.Why should you be?We were talkin' about trust just now--or I was.Well,you and I'll have to take each other on trust for a while,until we see whether we're goin' to suit.If you see anything that I'm goin'wrong in,I wish you'd tell me.And I'll do the same by you,if that's agreeable.You'll hear a lot of things said about me,but if they're very bad I give you my word they ain't true.And,to be real frank,I'll probably hear some about you,which I'll take for what they're worth and considerin'who said 'em.That's a good wholesome agreement,Ithink,for both of us.What do you think?