Part 49 (1/2)
”The Ninety and Nine. It's number seven-seventy-nine. And won't you sing it, miss? I haven't heard it sung for a long time, though I read it most every day.”
Having played the air, Nell began to sing, and as her clear, sweet voice welled forth, Joe leaned eagerly forward so as not to miss a word. There were tears in his eyes, but his face was beaming with joy and peace. Nell sang the hymn through, and when she finished and the last throbbing notes of the organ ceased, a sobbing moan drifted up the aisle of the old church. Both Nell and Joe turned quickly around, and to their surprise they saw a woman kneeling upon the floor with her face buried in her hands.
”Jean, my Jean!” Joe cried, as he sprang from his seat, hurried down the aisle and caught his daughter in his arms. Then there was silence, broken only by the sobs of the kneeling girl.
Nell stood near and watched them, uncertain what to do. She was deeply affected by this scene, and thought it best that the two should be alone. Softly she moved toward the door, and had almost reached it, when Jean sprang after her and caught her by the arm.
”Don't go, Nell,” she cried, ”until you have forgiven me. Tell me you forgive me,” and once more Jean fell upon her knees and seized Nell's hand in hers, and held it with a firm grip.
Stooping, Nell placed her disengaged arm lovingly about the girl's body, and kissed her on the cheek.
”I forgive you all, Jean,” she said. ”So get up. Why should you kneel to me?”
”And you know? You understand?” Jean asked, lifting up her pale face.
”Yes, I think I know everything, and you have always had my sincere sympathy. But how did you happen to come here?”
”I wanted to see the old church once more, where I used to wors.h.i.+p, and was so happy in the years now gone forever. I did not expect to find any one here, and was greatly surprised when I heard you singing. It was that old hymn which affected me so much, and broke me down completely.”
”I am so glad that you came just when you did,” Nell replied. ”You have been in my thoughts day and night, and I knew that you would come to see me some day. You will come, will you not?”
But Jean shook her head and looked longingly around the church, as if taking a final farewell of all the objects which were so dear and familiar to her.
”I am going away,” she quietly said, ”and may never be back again.”
”Don't say that, Jean,” her father implored. ”Why should you leave us when we want you so much? Your mother's heart is aching for her little girl.”
”I know it, I know it, daddy dear. I have been very bad and cruel to you both. But I have something to wipe out, and I shall never rest content until I have done what I can to atone for my past sad mistake in life.”
”Where are you going, Jean?” Nell asked.
”I cannot tell you now. But it is a great work to which I am going, and some day you will be proud of me, and so will the people of Rixton.
They scorn me now, and they surely have good reason for doing so.”
”But, Jean darling, you will tell us where you are going before you leave, will you not?” her father asked. ”You will come home first?”
”Yes, I shall go with you now. And in a few days you will all know where I am going, and what I expect to do. Come, daddy, let us go.
Good-bye, Nell, I shall see you before I leave.”
Taking her father by the arm, she led him from the church, and up the lane leading to the main road. Nell watched them until they had disappeared from view. She then closed the church and hurried across the field, for it was getting late and her father would be waiting for her. But her heart was lighter than it had been for days. Jean was her old self again, and she was so thankful. But she wondered where she was going, and what she was about to do. That it was something n.o.ble, she could tell by the expression of hope in Jean's eyes, and the look of animation which had overspread her face as she told about her intended departure.
When Nell reached the church Sunday afternoon, she found a large number of people already there. It had been rumoured that the Bishop was to hold the service, and it was expected that he would speak about the war, and also have something to say concerning the new clergyman who was to come to the parish.
Nell had not been idle since Friday, and Sat.u.r.day night the first choir practice in months had been held. The members were now all in their places as she entered the church and went at once to the organ. Having arranged her books, she next placed a list of hymns in a hymn book and took it into the vestry room for the clergyman's use. It was a most perfect August afternoon, and through the open vestry came the fresh air laden with perfume of meadow and forest, and the music of birds.
Having placed the book on the little table, Nell looked around the room to see that everything was arranged in its proper place. And as she stood there, an auto swung up and stopped just outside the open door.
Glancing quickly around, Nell saw a man in khaki alight from the car, with a small grip in his hand, and step into the vestry. He paused in pleased surprise when he saw who was in the room, and at once held out his hand.