After luncheon Mr. Claybourne took over Mr. Ebling, and Knowlton carried
me away to deposit our check at the bank. It was part of the agreement
that Knowlton and I should work beside the new management for a month,
until things ran smoothly.
"Don't play any more kid tricks on Ebling, Ted," Knowlton warned me as
we parted at the bank. "You've done enough for today."
* * * * *
The great day was approaching; sometimes it seemed with great rapidity,
and again I thought the end of the month would never come. The
trousseau, with all kinds of shopping and trying things on, took up a
great deal of Helen's time, and Mrs. Claybourne banished me for days on
end. I did a lot of work in the laboratory, with the new chemist, to
keep occupied, but I found it hard to take work seriously.
One morning Mrs. Claybourne informed me that she had made an appointment
for me at eleven to call upon the minister who was to marry us. I had no
chance to find out from Helen what this meant, but was bundled off to
keep the engagement.
I entered his study with decidedly mixed feelings. It was reminiscent of
going to the dentist's. He was a tall, sandy-haired elderly young man,
with a fine but slightly stagey face. "Could play jeune premiers just as
he stands," I thought, as he shook my hand and seated me in a deep
leathern armchair.
"So you and Helen are to be married," he began, offering me a cigarette.
It did not put me at my ease. The only suitable reply I could think of
was "Yes--on the thirtieth." I lit the cigarette, hoping inspiration
from it later.
"It is a solemn step you are taking," he continued. "Are you sure you
have thoroughly searched your hearts?"
"If you mean, do we love each other, I think there is no doubt of it," I
answered, the bristles on my back rising a trifle.
"Did you know I went to your college?" he asked, shifting the attack.
"No. What was your class?"
"Before your time, I think." He went on to tell me some reminiscences of
Hilltown in his day. He had been a 'varsity half-back, and I remembered
now the tradition of him that came down to our crowd. I was annoyed to
discover that I was beginning to feel at ease. At last we reached the
point. Would I go to communion with Helen the Sunday before our
marriage?
I did not know what to say. I did not wish to hurt Mrs. Claybourne's
feelings, but I did not see how I could, in honesty. I put my difficulty
to him.
"My mother belongs to the Church of England," I explained, "and it is
the only one I have ever attended--except cathedrals on the Continent.
But I don't know what I believe."
"Do any of us?" he said with a rather wonderful softness in his eyes.
"Do we have to believe anything? Isn't faith enough?"