While he had been kneeling for the Father's blessing he had been
aware of a step on the floor behind him. It was his fellow-curate, the
Reverend Golightly, who was still waiting to deliver his message.
The canon had been disappointed in one of his preachers for Sunday, and
being himself engaged to preside over the annual dinner of a dramatic
benevolent fund to be held on the Saturday night, and therefore
incapable of extra preparation, he desired that Mr. Storm should take
the sermon on Sunday morning.
John promised to do so; and then his fellow-curate smiled, bowed,
coughed, and left him. A small room was kept for the chaplain on the
ground floor of the hospital, and he went down to it and wrote a letter.
It was to the parson at Peel.
“No doubt you hear from Glory frequently, and know all about her
progress as a probationer. She seems to be very well, and certainly I
have never seen her look so bright and so cheerful. At the moment of
writing she is out at a ball given by some of the hospital authorities.
Well, it is a perfectly harmless source of pleasure, and with all my
heart I hope she is enjoying herself. No doubt some form of amusement
is necessary to a young girl in the height of her youth and health
and beauty, and he would be only a poor sapless man who could not take
delight in the thought that a good girl was happy. Her fellow-nurses,
too, are noble and devoted women, doing true woman's work, and if there
are some black sheep among them, that is no more than might be expected
of the purest profession in the world.
“As for myself, I have tried to carry out-my undertaking to look after
Glory, but I can not say how long I may be able to continue the task.
Do not be surprised if I am compelled to give it up. You know I am
dissatisfied with my present surroundings, and I am only waiting for the
ruling and direction of the pillar of cloud and fire. God alone can tell
how it will move, but God will guide me. I don't go out more than I can
help, and when I do go I get humiliated and feel foolish. The life of
London has been a great and painful surprise. I had supposed that I knew
all about it, but I have really known nothing until now. Its cruelty,
its deceit, and its treachery are terrible. London is the Judas that
is forever betraying with a kiss the young, the hopeful, the innocent.
However, it helps one to know one's self, and that is better than
lying wrapped in cotton wool. Give my kindest greetings to everybody at
Glenfaba--my love to my father, too, if there are any means of conveying
it.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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