"I'll speak to the preacher about it, myself.

But mind you have as little to say to her as you can, and may the Lord protect you!" But the elder's plans for cautioning his pastor were doomed to disappointment.

He was a prisoner with lumbago for the next fortnight, and even the most sincere interest in some one else's spiritual welfare cannot tempt a man out of the house when he is bent almost double with lumbago.

Nor, when John came to see him, could he begin such a conversation as he had planned, for his neck was too stiff to allow him to raise his head and look in Mr.Ward's face.

When he recovered, he was delayed still another week, because the preacher had gone away to General Assembly.
But Alfaretta was far too miserable to find in her father's command "not to give notice to-night" any ray of comfort.