"He kep' just behind the feller," the stage-driver told Van Horn at the Tavern afterwards--"just behind him, like as if he was afraid the feller'd run away from him. But the feller, he stopped right at the steps, and he turned around, and he says, 'Mind you,' he says (mad as a hatter)--'mind you,' he says, 'I'm not _brought_, I've _come_';--whatever that means," the stage-driver ruminated. So much Old Chester knew the day after Mary Gordon's wedding. And it naturally sought to know a little more. "I suppose her father feels it very much?" ventured Mrs. Barkley to Dr. Lavendar. "Any man feels the marriage of his only girl," said Dr. Lavendar, briefly. And Mrs. Barkley held her tongue. But Mrs. Drayton, who was just then anxious about her soul and found it necessary to consult Dr. Lavendar as to the unpardonable sin--Mrs. Drayton was not so easily squelched. "My Jean says that the Gordon's Rachel told her that Alex brought the man into the house by the ear, and then sent her for you, running, and--" "She didn't bring me into the house by the ear," said Dr. Lavendar. "But why, do you suppose, was it all so sudden?" said Mrs. Drayton; "it almost looks--" "How do you know it was sudden?" said Dr. Lavendar. "Well, my Jean said--" "It may have been sudden to Jean," said the old man; "possibly Mary had not taken Jean into her confidence. Some folks don't confide in servants, you know." But Mrs. Drayton was proof against so delicate a thrust. "Well, I only hope she won't repent at her leisure;--if there's nothing but haste to repent of. If there's anything else--" "I'll say good-day, Mrs. Drayton," interrupted Dr. Lavendar; "and as for your question about the unpardonable sin, ma'am, why, just be ready to forgive other folks and you needn't be afraid of the unpardonable sin for yourself." He took his hat and stick and went thumping down-stairs. In the hall he met William King going up to see the invalid, and said, with a gasp: "Willy, my boy, a good, honest murderer is easier to deal with than some milder kinds of wrong-doing." "Dr. Lavendar," said William, "I'd rather have a patient with small-pox than treat some lighter ills that I could name." As for Mrs. Drayton, she told her daughter that Dr. Lavendar was very unspiritual, and did not understand the distress of a sensitive temperament. "Even the slightest error fills me with remorse," said Mrs. Drayton. "Dear me! I should think Mary Gordon would know what remorse is--for, of course, there is only one thing to think." II