Mrs Irving is an invalid now,
and Joy supports her with her music. Mr Irving and Joy were members
of Arthur Emerson's former church (Mrs Stuart always spoke of her son
in that manner), and that is how my son became interested in the
daughter--an interest I supposed to be purely that of a rector in his
parishioner, until of late, when I began to fear it took root in
deeper soil. But I am sure, dear Baroness, you can understand my
anxiety."
And then the Baroness, with drawn lips and anguished eyes, took both
of Mrs Stuart's hands in hers, and cried out:
"Your pain, dear madam, is second to mine. I have no child, to be
sure, but as few mothers love I love Alice Cheney, my dear husband's
granddaughter. My very life is bound up in her, and she--God help
us, she loves your son with her whole soul. If he marries another it
will kill her or drive her insane."
The two women fell weeping into each other's arms.
CHAPTER XII
Preston Cheney conceived such a strong, earnest liking for the young
clergyman whom he met under his own roof during one of his visits
home, that he fell into the habit of attending church for the first
time in his life.
Mabel and Alice were deeply gratified with this intimacy between the
two men, which brought the rector to the house far oftener than they
could have tastefully done without the co-operation of the husband
and father.
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