"Few, under the circumstances, could have acted as if they thought so! And I hope you'll let me call upon you, Mr.Louden.""I hope you will," he answered; and then, when the minister had departed, stood looking after him with sad eyes, in which there dwelt obscure meditations.
Ladew's word of farewell had covered a deep look at Ariel, which was not to be mistaken by Joseph Louden for anything other than what it was: the clergyman's secret was an open one, and Joe saw that he was as frank and manly in love as in all other things."He's a good fellow,"he said at last, sighing."A good man."Ariel agreed."And he said more to me than he did to you.""Yes, I think it probable," Joe smiled sorrowfully.
"About YOU, I mean." He had time to fear that her look admitted confusion before she proceeded: "He said he had never seen anything so fine as your coming down those steps.Ah, he was right! But it was harder for me to watch you, I think, than for you to do it, Joe.I was so horribly afraid--and the crowd between us--if we could have got near you--but we couldn't--we--"She faltered, and pressed her hand close upon her eyes.
"We?" asked Joe, slowly."You mean you and Mr.Ladew?""Yes, he was there; but I mean"--her voice ran into a little laugh with a beatific quaver in it --"I mean Colonel Flitcroft and Mr.Bradbury and Mr.Buckalew, too--we were hemmed in together when Mr.Ladew found us--and, oh, Joe, when that cowardly rush started toward you, those three--I've heard wonderful things in Paris and Naples, cabmen quarrelling and disappointed beggars--but never anything like them to-day--""You mean they were profane?""Oh, magnificently--and with such inventiveness!