"Won't you come in; service is going on?"
Esther followed him. In the tent there were some benches, and on a
platform a grey-bearded man with an anxious face spoke of sinners and
redemption. Suddenly a harmonium began to play a hymn, and, standing side
by side, Esther and Fred sang together. Prayer was so inherent in her that
she felt no sense of incongruity, and had she been questioned she would
have answered that it did not matter where we are, or what we are doing,
we can always have God in our hearts.
Fred followed her out.
"You have not forgotten your religion, I hope?"
"No, I never could forget that."
"Then why do I find you in such company? You don't come here like us to
find sinners."
"I haven't forgotten God, but I must do my duty to my husband. It would be
like setting myself up against my husband's business, and you don't think
I ought to do that? A wife that brings discord into the family is not a
good wife, so I've often heard."
"You always thought more of your husband than of Christ, Esther."
"Each one must follow Christ as best he can! It would be wrong of me to
set myself against my husband."
"So he married you?" Fred answered bitterly.
"Yes. You thought he'd desert me a second time; but he's been the best of
husbands."
"I place little reliance on those who are not with Christ. His love for
you is not of the Spirit. Let us not speak of him. I loved you very
deeply, Esther. I would have brought you to Christ.... But perhaps you'll
come to see us sometimes."
"I do not forget Christ. He's always with me, and I believe you did care
for me. I was sorry to break it off, you know I was. It was not my fault."
"Esther, it was I who loved you."
"You mustn't talk like that. I'm a married woman."
"I mean no harm, Esther. I was only thinking of the past."
"You must forget all that... Good-bye; I'm glad to have seen you, and that
we said a prayer together."
Fred didn't answer, and Esther moved away, wondering where she should find
Sarah.