Jenifer's Prayer, Part II [pp. 183-197]

Jenifer's Prayer.
spared her; she thought how terrible
it would have been if Claudia Brewer
had married Horace Erskine-Hor ace Erskine, the husband of the de serted Eleanor; and she gave thanks
to God.
Now she drew her shawl tighter
round her, and walked briskly on. She
got across the down, and over a stone
stile in the fence that was its boundary
from the road. She turned toward
Marston, and walked fast-it was al most getting cold after that glorious
sunset, and she increased her pace
and went on rapidly. She soon saw a
carriage in the road before her, driv ing slowly, and meeting her. When
it came near enough to recognize her,
the lady who drove let her ponies go,
and then pulled up at Jenifer's side.
"Now, Mistress Jenifer," said Lady
Greystock, looking bright and beautiful in the black hat, and long streaming black feather, that people wore min
those days, "here am I to drive you
home. I knew where you were going.
Eleanor tells me her secrets. Do you
know that? This is an anniversary;
and you give gifts and say prayers.
Are you comfortable? I am going to
drive fast to please the ponies; they
like it, you know." And very true
did Lady Greystock's words seem;
for the little creatures given their
heads went off at a pace that had in
it every evidence of perfect good will.
"I came to drive you back, and to pick
up Eleanor, and drive her to Blagden
after I had delivered you up safely to
grandmamma M3orier. Mother Mary
came to see me this afternoon. You
had better go and see Mlinnie soon.
Jenifer"-Jenifer looked up surprised
at a strange tone in Lady Greystock's
voice-'" Jenifer," speaking very low,
"if you can pray for my father and
his wife, and all he loves, pray now.
It would be hard for a man to be
trapped by the greatness of his own
good heart."
"Is there anything wrong, my dear?"
Jenifer spoke softly, and just as she
had been used to speak to the Claudia
Brewer of old days.
"I can't say more," Lady Grey stock replied; "here we are at Mar ston." Then she talked of common
things; and told James, the man-ser vant, to drive the horses up and down
the street while she bade Mrs. Morier
"Good night." And they went into
the house, and half an hour after Lady
Greystock and Eleanor had got into
the pony carriage, and were driving
away. The quiet street was empty
once more. The little excitement
made by Lady Greystock and her
ponies subsided. Good-byes were
spoken, and the quiet of night settled
down on the streets and houses of
MIarston.
Jenifer had wondered over Lady
Greystock's words; and comforted
herself, and stilled her fears, and set
her guesses all at rest bythose few longused powerful words-"My life, and
all that is in it!" She offered life,
and gave up its work and its trials to
God; and Jenifer, too, was at rest then.
But at Clayton things were not quite
in the same peaceful state as in that little old-fashioned inland town. Clayton
was very busy; and among the busy
ones, though busy in his own way, was
Father Daniels.
That morning a messenger had
brought him a packet from Mrs. Brewer; for " M3other Mary" since becoming a Catholic had wanted advice, and
wanted strength, and she had sought
and found what she wanted, and now
she had sent to the same source for
further help. As soon as Jenifer was
gone, Father Daniels put away his
teak-wood and his carving tools, and
packed up his drawings and his pencils. He was a man of great neatness, and his accuracy in all business,
and his faithful recollection of every
living soul's wants, as far as they had
ever been made known to him, were
charming points 6f his characterpoints, that is, natural gifts, that the
great charity which belonged to his
priesthood adorned and made merito
rious. While he "tidied away his
things," ashis housekeeper Mrs. Mloore
used to say, he thought and he prayed
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