human
Dear me, I am afraid you are ill--can I get you anything?
gpt
Thank you; my tea will refresh me, she said, coming back to her seat.
human
I did not sleep very much last night, and my head aches: when people come to my time of life, said the little woman, with a faint heroical smile,
gpt
If that is all, I hope you will be pleased to-day, said the preacher, with a little complaisance.
human
I always sleep well; nothing puts me much out in that respect. Perhaps it is about time to start now? I like to have a few minutes in the vestry before going into the pulpit. You know the way perhaps? or we can call at Mr. Tozer's and get one of them to guide us.
gpt
I think I know the way, said Mrs. Vincent, faintly. It was a slight comfort, in the midst of her martyrdom, to leave the room and have a moment to herself. She sank down by her bedside in an inarticulate agony of prayer, which doubtless God deciphered, though it never came to words, and rose up again to put on her bonnet, her neat shawl, her best pair of gloves. The smile that might have come on the face of a martyr at the stake dawned upon the little woman's lips as she caught sight of her own pale face in the glass, when she was tying her bonnet-strings. She was not thrusting her hand into the scorching flames, she was only pulling out the bows of black ribbon, and giving the last touch to that perfection of gentle neatness in which Arthur's mother, for his sake, must present herself to his people. She took Mr. Beecher's arm afterwards, and walked with him, through the wintry sunshine and streams of churchgoers, to Salem. Perhaps she was just a little sententious in her talk to the young preacher, who would have stared had anybody told him what active and feverish wretchedness was in her heart. She quoted Arthur's dear father more than usual; she felt a little irritated in spite of herself by the complaisance of the young man from 'Omerton. Notwithstanding the dreadful pressure of her trouble, she felt that his excitement in the prospect of preaching to Arthur's people was quite ill-timed. What did it matter to him whether the Salem flock liked him or not? Were they not Arthur's people, pre-engaged to their own pastor? The gentle widow did what she could to bring Mr. Beecher down as they walked through Grove Street. She remarked, gently, that where a minister was very popular, a stranger had but little chance of appreciation.
human
You must not be mortified if you see the congregation look disappointed when you come into the pulpit, said Mrs. Vincent;
gpt
The new preacher was perhaps a shade less buoyant when he resigned his friend's mother to Tozer at the door of the chapel, to be conducted to her pew. Salem was already about half filled; and the entering flock looked at Mrs. Vincent, as she stood with the deacon in the porch, asking, with the courtesy of a royal personage, humble yet affable, after his wife and daughter. Tozer was a little overawed by the politeness of the minister's mother. He concluded that she was
human
If you tell me where the minister's seat is, I need not trouble you to go in,
gpt
Mrs. Tufton's uncommon punctual, and it's close upon her time, said Tozer;
human
Then I am to sit in Mr. Tufton's pew?
gpt
There ain't no more of them never at Salem, but Mrs. Tufton, said Tozer.
human
Mr. Tufton has had a shock, and the only one of a family they've at home is a great invalid, and never was within the chapel door in my time. Mr. Tufton he do come now and again. He would have been here to-day, I make bold to say, but for the minister being called away. I hope you've 'eard from Mr. Vincent, ma'am, and as he'll soon be back. It ain't a good thing for a congregation when the pastor takes to going off sudden. Here she is a-coming. Mrs. Tufton, ma'am, this is Mrs. Vincent, the minister's mother; she's been waiting for you to go into your pew.
gpt
I hope I shall not be in your way, said Mrs. Vincent, with her dignified air.
human
I have always been accustomed to see a seat for the minister, but as I am a stranger, I hope for once I shall not be in your way.
gpt
Don't say a word! cried Mrs. Tufton.
human
I am as glad as possible to see Mr. Vincent's mother. He is a precious young man. It's not a right principle, you know, but it's hard not to envy people that are so happy in their families; nothing would make my Tom take to the ministry, though his papa and I had set our hearts upon it; and he's in Australia, poor dear fellow! and my poor girl is such an invalid. I hope your daughter is pretty well? Come this way. I hope I shall see a great deal of you. Mr. Tufton takes such an interest in his young brother; all that he wants is a little good advice--that is what the minister always tells me. All that Mr. Vincent wants, he says, is a little good advice.