Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ And then he muttered something—it sounded like a line or two of poetry—which Agnes did not quite catch; but she felt, as she often did feel when with Father Ferguson, at once rebuked and rebellious.
Of course there might have been time for Teresa to make an act of contrition. But every one knows that to take one's life is a deadly sin. Agnes felt quite sure that if it ever occurred to herself to do such a thing she would go straight to hell. Still, she was used to obey this old priest, and that even when she did not agree with him. ”

“ MRS. BARLOW, the prettiest and the happiest and the best dressed of the young wives of Summerfield, was walking toward the Catholic church. She was going to consult the old priest as to her duty to an unsatisfactory servant; for Agnes Barlow was a conscientious as well as a pretty and a happy woman.
Foolish people are fond of quoting a foolish gibe: “Be good, and you may be happy; but you will not have a good time.” The wise, however, soon become aware that if, in the course of life's journey, you achieve goodness and happiness, you will almost certainly have a good time too. ”

“ Never again, for instance, would Teresa's cook give her notice, as Agnes' cook had given her notice that morning—it was about that matter she wished to see Father Ferguson, for it was through the priest she had heard of the impertinent Irish girl who cooked so well, but who had such an independent manner and who would not wear a cap!
Yes, it certainly seemed unfair that Teresa would now be rid of all domestic worries—that henceforth the woman who had sinned would live in luxurious hotels, motoring and shopping all day, going to the theater or to a music-hall each night. ”

“ They lived in a charming house called the Haven, and they were the proud parents of a fine little boy, named Francis after his father, who never had any of the tiresome ailments which afflict other children.
But strange, dreadful things do happen, even in this delightful world! So thought Agnes Barlow on this pleasant May afternoon; for, as she walked to church, this pretty, happy, good woman found her thoughts dwelling uncomfortably on another woman, her sometime intimate friend and contemporary, who was neither good nor happy. ”

“ More quietly he had gone on to speak as if the code of morality in which his friend had been bred, and which had hitherto so entirely satisfied her, was, after all, nothing but a narrow counsel of perfection, suited for those who were sheltered and happy, wretchedly inadequate to meet the needs of the greater number of human beings who were, as Agnes now was, humiliated and miserable. ”

“ Mr. Ferrier had a charming studio flat in Chelsea, that odd, remote place where London artists live, far from the pleasant London of the shops and theaters which was all Agnes knew of the town near which she dwelt. But he had spent the last two summers in Summerfield, and he was a geat deal at the Haven. ”

“ Ferrier—and they were much together during the long week-days—Agnes Barlow made a point of often speaking of dear Frank and of Frank's love for her—not, of course, in a way that any one could have regarded as silly, but in a natural, simple way.
How easy, how very easy, it is to keep this kind of friendship—friendship between a man. and a woman—within bounds! And how terribly sad it was to think that Teresa Maldo had not known how to do that easy thing! But then, Teresa's lover had been a married man, separated from his wife, and that doubtless made all the difference. ”

“ Agnes' throat tightened. What Father Ferguson said was only too true. Teresa had always been a very generous and unselfish girl, and very, very fond of her. She wondered remorsefully if she could have done or said anything that day poor Teresa had come and spoken such strange, wild words
“It seems so awful,” she said in a low voice, “so very, very awful to think that we may not even pray for her soul, Father Ferguson.”
“Not pray for her soul?” the priest repeated. “Why should we not pray for the poor child's soul? I shall certainly pray for Teresa's soul every day till I die.” ”

“ I am but a man, after all!”
They parted enemies; but the same night Ferrier wrote Agnes a very piteous letter, asking pardon on his knees for having spoken as he had done. And his letter moved her to the heart. Her own deep misery—never for one moment did she forget Frank and Frank's treachery—made her understand the torment that Ferrier was going through. ”

“ The woman looked at her fixedly. “No, that I can't,” she said listlessly. “I'm a stranger here.” And then, with a passionate energy which startled Agnes, “For God's sake, give me something, lady, to help me to get home! I've walked all the way from Essex; it's taken me—oh! so long, with the child—though we've had a lift here and a lift there—and I haven't a penny left. ”

“ Men, you see, were so sorry for this lovely young woman, blessed (or cursed) with what old-fashioned folk call “the come-hither eye,” that they made it their business to console her for such a worthless husband as was Maldo! No wonder Teresa and Agnes drifted apart; no wonder Frank Barlow soon forbade Agnes to go on accepting Mrs. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1947, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 76 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”