God's Good Man, Marie Corelli [me reader .txt] 📗

contentment and tranquillity from the influences of nature, unspoilt by contact with the busier and wearier world. ‘Passon Walden’s’ wedding-day was the chief great historic event of its conscious life. For on that never-to-be- forgotten and glorious occasion, the tenantry of Abbot’s Manor, together with all the villagers and the school-children were entertained at an open-air festival and dance, which lasted all the afternoon and evening, on the broad smooth greensward encircling the famous ‘Five Sister’ beeches where bride and bridegroom had looked upon each other for the first time. What a high tide of simple revelry it was to be sure! Never had the delicate tremulous green foliage of the rescued trees waved over a happier scene. ‘Many a kiss both odd and even’ was exchanged among lads and lasses at that blithe merry-making,—even Cicely and Julian Adderley were not always to be found when they were wanted, having taken to ‘composing music and poetry together,’ which no doubt quite accounted for their long rambles together away from all the rest of the merry crowd. Mrs. Spruce, with a circle of her gossips round her, sat talking the whole livelong day on the ‘ways o’ the Lord bein’ past findin’ out.’

“For,” said she, “when Miss Maryllia first come ‘ome she ‘adn’t an idee o’ goin’ to hear Passon Walden, an’ sez I ‘do-ee go an’ hear ‘im,’ an’ she sez—‘No, Spruce, I cannot, I don’t believe in it’— an’ I sez to myself, ‘never mind, the Lord ‘e knows ‘is own, which He do, but ‘ard as are His ways I never did think He’d a’ brought her to be Passon’s wife,—that do beat me, though it’s just what it should be, an’ if the Lord don’t know what should be why then no one don’t, an’ that ‘minds me o’ when I sent for Passon to see me unpack Miss Maryllia’s boxes, he was that careful he made me pick up a pair o’ pink shoes what ‘ad fell on the floor—‘Take care o’ them,’ he sez—Lor!—now I come to think of it, he was mortal struck over them pink shoes!”

And Bainton commenting on general events observed:—

“Well, I did say once that if Passon were married he’d be a fine man spoilt, but I’ve altered my mind now! I think he’s a fine man full growed at last, like a plant what’s stopped a bit an’ suddenly takes a start an’ begins to flower. An’ so far as my own line goes, if Missis Walden, bless ‘er, comes round me talkin’ about the rectory garden, which is to be kep’ up just the same as ever, an’ fusses like over the lilac bush what he broke a piece off of for her, well!—I DID say I’d never ‘ave a petticut round MY work—but a pretty petticut’s worth looking at, it is reely now!”

So the harmless chatter among the village folks went on, and the feasting, dancing and singing lasted long. Chief of important personages among all that gathered under the old beech-trees was Josey Letherbarrow,—very feeble,—very dim of eye, but stout of heart and firm of opinion as ever. Beside him sat Bishop Brent,— with Walden himself and his bride,—for from his venerable hands Maryllia had sought the first blessing on her marriage as soon as the wedding ceremony had ended.

“Everything’s all right if we’ll only believe it!” he said now, looking with a wistful tenderness from one to the other—“Life’s all right—death’s all right! I’m sartin sure I’ll find everything just as I’ve hoped an’ prayed for’t when I gets to th’ other side o’ this world, for I’ve ‘ad my ‘art’s best wish given to me when all ‘ope seemed over—an’ that was to see Squire’s gel ‘appy! An’ she IS ‘appy!—look at ‘er, as fresh as a little rose all smilin’ an’ ready to bloom on ‘er husband’s lovin’ ‘art! Ah! Th’ owld Squire would a’ been proud to see ‘em this bright day! And as for the Lord A’mighty He knows what He’s about I tell ye!” and Josey nodded his head with great sagacity—“Some folks think He don’t—but He do!”

The Bishop smiled.

“Verily I have not found so great a faith—no, not in Israel!”—he murmured, as presently he rose and strolled away by himself for a while to muse and meditate. Towards sunset Walden, going in search of him found him in the rose garden, looking at the profuse red clusters of bloom in the old French damask border.

“How they smile openly to the sun!” he said, pointing to them, as John approached—“Like love!—or faith!”

John was silent a moment. Then he said suddenly—

“Are you going over to Rome, Harry?”

“No!” And Brent’s eyes looked full into those of his friend, straightly and steadfastly. “Not now. I will do the work appointed for me to the end!”

“Thank God!” said Walden, simply. And their hands met in a close grasp, thereby sealing a wordless compact, never to be broken.

The sun sank and the moon began to rise. Song and dance gradually ceased, and the happy villagers began to disperse, and wend their ways homeward. Love was in the air—love breathed in the perfume of the flowers—love tuned the throats of the passionate nightingales that warbled out their mating songs in every hazel copse and from ever acacia bough in the Manor woods, and love seemed, as the poet says, to ‘sit astride o’ the moon’ as its silver orb peered over the gables of the Manor itself and poured a white shower of glory on the sweet face and delicate form of Maryllia, as she stood in the old Tudor courtyard, now a veritable wilderness of flowers, with her husband’s arm round her, listening to the faint far-off singing of the villagers returning to their homes through the scented green lanes.

“Everyone has been happy to-day!” she said, looking up with a smile- -“All the world around us seems to thank God!”

“All the world would thank Him if it could but find what we have found!” answered John, drawing her close to his heart—“All it wants, all it needs, both for itself and others, for this world and the next, is simply—Love!”

THE END

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