"Oh, don't think of that, Mrs. Sturtevant. It was perfectly understandable, of course, when you were away, and especially at this time, with a war just over. But I don't think we ought to begrudge anything to those wonderful boys. And I know they were crazy to get home, and their families were so glad to have them coming."
"Well," said the caller, "from what I've seen of them they're the most ill-mannered set. They think they can do simply anything just because they wear a uniform. But all I can say is I'm heartily glad I never had any sons to send out to war."
"Yes, it must have been pretty hard for the mothers to let them go, knowing they might never return," said Eden thoughtfully, feeling sorry also for any sons that might have belonged to this woman.
"Well, I suppose some of them felt that way," begrudged the woman, "but, after all, they might have died if they had stayed at home. Some do, you know, without even the glory of medals and ribbons and all that. However, I'm glad this war craze is supposed to be over, and I hope now we'll be able to get a few of the necessities of life. Why, I tried to get some hemstitched linen sheets at the store yesterday, and where I've always bought them, and do you know, I couldn't get a single sheet anywhere, not even a cotton one? At last I went to a very exclusive shop in one of our best suburbs and found some cotton ones and said I'd take two dozen, and do you know what the salesperson told me? She said they were not allowed to sell but one pair to a customer. Of course, I had a friend with me and she bought a pair, too, and gave them to me, so I got four. But imagine it! I really don't believe in war, do you?"
Eden smiled.
"I guess nobody believes in war except the people who want to conquer the world, do they? But I'm glad it's over of course."
"Yes, of course you are. Did you have a young sweetheart in the war, my dear? I feel it must have been so hard for the dear girls who had to say good-bye and not know whether the boys were ever coming back. It must have been worse for the girls, and young things that got married in a hurry. Did you have a sweetheart over there?"
Eden's eyes fairly twinkled.
"No," she said, laughing a sweet little ripple of a laugh, "I had lots of old friends and schoolmates, of course, but no sweethearts. I haven't ever had time to think about that."
"Oh, my dear!" said the honeyed reproving voice of the caller. "Well, be thankful you didn't. The world's all before you now that you can take your time to pick and choose. Now, I really must be getting home. I have an appointment with a new dressmaker. Such a pity we can't get our old standbys. My old dressmaker who always made all repairs and adjustments has gone into defense work and is getting a fabulous sum every week. I declare I think it's a crime the wages they paid during the war. But they'll soon find out that won't keep up, and then they'll go whining around for jobs, and nobody will want them back. Well, good-bye, and do run over, dear, when you get lonely and want cheering up. I'll be glad to take you over and entertain you. Call me up sometime and let me know when you can come."
"Thank you," said Eden coolly, "but I'm rather busy just now, and I don't get lonely much, only, of course, I miss my father. Good-bye, and thank you for coming."
When the door closed on the voluble woman at last, Janet emerged from the shadows of the hall with pitying eyes.
"Ye poor lamb!" she said gently.
"Oh, Janet," said Eden, throwing her arms around the kind old nurse, putting her head down on the sympathetic shoulder. "Oh, Janet, how many more of these will there be? Will every woman on this street think she has to call on me? This one was terrible. She didn't believe in anything, except what was for herself."
"Yes, my lamb. Thur's a mony like thet!" said Janet soothingly. "Noo, come awa' tae the lib'ry an' have a bite tae eat an' a wee drap o' tay. I've made soom hot scones! An' then ye ken say good night tae Tabor. He's coontin' on it."
So Eden had her tea and scones, and then she went and read Tabor his good-night psalm and left him with a smile of peace on his old lips.
Eden was very happy that night as she went to her room to read for a little while, and just before nine o'clock there came a telephone call for her from Lorrimer.
"Good evening," he said. "This is your lawyer. Do you remember him? I've been away to Chicago on business for the bank, or I should have called before, but how are you fixed for tomorrow evening? Are any guests coming?"
"Not that I know of," said Eden, thinking of Mrs. Sturtevant and sincerely hoping there would be no more such callers.
"Well, there is going to be a meeting in town tomorrow evening, and a very great Bible teacher is going to speak. I thought of you at once when I heard of it. I wondered if you would care to go with me to hear him?"
"Oh, I would love to," said Eden. "How wonderful!"
After she had hung up the receiver, she went down the hall to Janet's room.
"Janet, I'm going tomorrow evening to a wonderful Bible meeting, with Mr. Lorrimer. So if anybody calls up and tells you they are coming to see me tomorrow night, you can tell them I shall not be at home."
"Thet will be wonner'fu!" declared Janet. "I'm glad he asked ye. I ken tell he's a gude mon."
So both Eden and Janet slept well that night.
Chapter 10
The next day went on happily in pleasant routine, with Tabor hourly showing improvement and the doctor well pleased with the result of his treatment. Eden went through the day much cheered in heart, able to put aside the great loneliness that so often surged over her as she remembered that her father was gone from her.
About five o'clock in the afternoon there came a telephone call from Caspar Carvel, and a cold shrinking seized her when she heard his voice. She wished she had asked Janet to answer the telephone. Janet would have settled him. And yet she realized that, after all, it was her question to settle.
"Yes?" she answered in a cool, impersonal voice, not at all as if she joyfully recognized him.
"Hello, beautiful!" he addressed her, as of old, and waited an instant for a friendly sign, but Eden gave no friendly sign.
"Yes?" she said questioningly. "Is this Caspar?"
There was an instant's silence, and then the young man tried again.
"Yes, Eden. I want to come and see you this evening."
"That will be impossible," she answered with finality. "I have an engagement for the evening."
"Well, then let me come now. I want to apologize for what I did the other night. I've got some time off, unexpectedly. I find I'm not satisfied until I make it right with you, Eden. You're my old friend."
There was a note of pleading in his voice. "Let me come over to dinner and we can talk while we are eating. I can't be satisfied until I have made it right with you."
Eden was still a moment and then said gravely: "I'm afraid you can't do that by any talking, Caspar. You dishonored my father, and you spoke with contempt of my God. Those are not little things to be lightly forgiven."
There was silence for a moment, what seemed almost like astonished silence, then the young man spoke again, almost humbly this time.
"I realized that I spoke carelessly, Eden, and I ought not to have done it. You know, I've been away from home in the wild environment, and I just got into the habit of speaking carelessly the way the others do. I want to talk it over and make you understand that I didn't mean any harm. Let me come over to dinner and we can talk it over."
"That is quite impossible, Caspar. I'm going to be away for dinner and will probably be out late tonight. Besides, it's time you understood that you cannot dishonor a man who has always been your friend, and blaspheme the God in whom I believe, and then expect to make everything right by a little talk."
"Well, can't you call off your other engagement and give me the evening?"
"No," said Eden with finality, "not even if I wanted to, which I do not."
"Oh, say now, kid! That's not like you!"
"No?" said Eden. "Well, neither is blasphemy and irreverence like what you used to be when you were a boy. But you'll have to excuse me no
w. I must go."
"Aw, Eden! Old friend! Don't be like that! Well, say, then if I can't come tonight, how about tomorrow night? I simply must make this right with you before I go back to camp, or I'll just about go to the dogs, and you'll be responsible. You don't want that, do you, lovely?"
"I don't believe that I would be in the least responsible," said Eden coldly. "But if it will do you any good, you many come over tomorrow evening about nine o'clock for half an hour. I really can't spare any more time. Good night!" And Eden hung up on the astonished young egotist.
But after she had hung up she was troubled. Why did this have to happen on this day that had been so happy? And had she done right to let him come at all? Yet it had seemed rather awful, too, to refuse to let him apologize. Well, she had at least put it off until tomorrow night, but she dreaded to have it to look forward to. She wished she might have this one evening free from worry.
Then she remembered the new life that she was wanting to live. Could she leave this also to her new Lord?
So when she went up to her room to get ready for the evening, she knelt by her bed and said softly: "Dear Lord, here is something again that I don't know how to manage and can't do anything about. Won't You please take over, and help me to trust it utterly to You? Show me just what to say and do."
Then she arose with a lighter heart and went about dressing.
She was a bit puzzled for a moment what she should wear. Her father had never liked the idea of wearing mourning for the Christian dead. She had no black dresses that were suitable for the occasion, anyway. So she settled on a simple suit of dark green wool, and a little felt hat with dark plumes to match, that curled about the brim and softly touched her hair. There was nothing noticeable about her outfit, yet she was looking very beautiful, and the young lawyer felt it and stood with admiring eyes as she came down the stairs. That look in his eyes made her feel as if he, too, were glad to be going out with her. Made her feel just happy and relieved. And sudden thought that her father would have approved of this evening's plan warmed her heart and helped her to forget Caspar Carvel and his intended call.
The young lawyer had brought his own car to take this little new lady out. It wasn't an expensive make, but it was a good reliable car, and Eden was never critical of cars. Tabor had always been their driver when she and her father went out, or when she went out alone, and she had heard little discussion of makes and models. Her education had not been along such lines. To tell the truth, even if the car had been of a very inferior make, Eden would have been inclined to admire it because it was owned by Lorrimer, although she had no idea whatever that her mind was in such a state that this was so.
The church to which they went was a very large one, located in a popular part of the city, and the crowd that was already gathering when they arrived gave promise of being a full house.
They found seats near the front. Eden looked around on the audience in amazement. There were a great many young people present, both young men and girls, and many of the men were still in service uniform. Somehow she had not expected to see any young people. She hadn't realized that young people were interested in religious things.
And there was another surprising fact: there were also a great many distinguished-looking men present, of all ages. Some of the men she had met, with her father. Three of these latter were on the platform and seemed to be going to take a part in the service. Her escort presently pointed out the principal speaker of the evening, about whom he had been telling her on their drive down to the city.
He was a fine, distinguished-looking man with a face full of deep spiritual understanding. Eden recognized that at once. There was a twinkle in his eyes when he looked up and smiled at someone that showed he had a real sense of humor.
Eden studied him while the people were coming in and while her escort was talking with a man who sat in front of them and evidently knew the lawyer well.
But aside from the few elderly men who had been her father's friends, she knew scarcely anyone in the audience.
Then when the choir of young people marched in and filled the gallery behind the platform, she studied them. They looked like interesting boys and girls, most of them very young looking, with here and there a serviceman or -girl.
The organist was a distinguished musician, and it was a joy to hear him play, but Eden was surprised to notice that in place of the usual formal church music there was much mingling of church hymns and even a Gospel song or two. It was then that Eden began to realize that this was a different meeting from any she had ever attended before. It wasn't just a formal church service, it was more like a gathering of people who really loved God and loved one another. It was a sort of heavenly fellowship gathering; she could imagine that heaven would be something like this.
Suddenly she looked up at Lorrimer and saw that he was watching her, and their eyes met in a lovely smile, as if he had understood her thoughts. She drew in a quick breath of delight. She had never known a fellowship like this, and she found herself wishing that her father could be there, too. Then came the thought that perhaps he was able to look down and see her there, and if that was possible, she knew he would be glad of her presence there.
The music was very fine but with no emphasis on its brilliancy. The solos made the words a sermon, and the prayer was tender and moving. Then the speaker was introduced, and from the first word Eden was thrilled.
"They tell us the war is over!" he said gravely. "But we are still in a war with sin. We have been in high spirits, getting ready to lay down our implements of warfare, and beat our 'swords into plowshares,' and our 'spears into pruninghooks,' getting rid of rationing, buying all the beefsteak and gas we want, and having a good time. We go to church on Sunday and sit back contented in what we choose to believe is an atmosphere of peace, and we like to try and think that there will never be a war again.
"But the Christian Church is in a warfare today, only our warfare is in the spirit realm, not in the natural. Not against flesh and blood. The Christian has been delivered from the natural realm, delivered from self: good self, bad self, religious self, and all the other kinds of self. He has been brought into another sphere, and it is in that sphere he must live and wage his warfare. We must combine our forces against the prince of the power of the air. And one of the first things we need to realize is that we cannot make a single move without orders from on high.
"We are fighting one of the battles in the great war against the enemy, and we are a spectacle not only for the world to see but also for the angels. They are watching us there on the ramparts of heaven, and Christian warfare, in order to be effective, must be fought from a heavenly standpoint and not from the earthly or carnal standpoint. That being the case, we cannot use carnal weapons and devices, such as human organizations and businesslike schemes the world would use. If we do, we're neglecting the spiritual and losing the power that is of God. There must be spiritual warfare on spiritual ground with spiritual weapons, or else we are defeated at the start.
"We are here as a church to take the prey out of the hands of the evil one, that sinners may be saved, saints built up, and a people prepared for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory and power.
"The very moment Christians get to warring with one another the Church is divided, and we are defeated. The very moment Christians get into a state of judging or criticizing one another with bitterness and unforgiveness toward one another, they are not only defeated in their own lives, but other people are defeated by their influence, and the devil is well pleased. He knows very well that if he can get the Church of God to warring with one another they will not war against him. That is why so many prayers by Christians who are judging and criticizing one another are not answered, and why so many lose the sweet experiences God wants them to have.
"God wants you to go after sinners, to be loving and patient with saints, and if you are sharp and censorious, you will only drive them away from God instead of winning them. God wants you to show by your li
fe that He has done something in your life, and He has saved you and separated you unto Himself, and given you His own life and His own patience and grace. There are worldly Christians who have no power in their lives. But when you walk with God and His Holy Spirit has His way with you every step of the way, then He will give you power and answer your prayers. Before you go out to battle, get down upon your knees and ask God to show you yourselves. Then examine your weapons. Be sure they are not carnal weapons.
"Long ago when Babylon had sinned and the Lord was going to destroy it, He raised up the spirit of the Medes to destroy it for Him, and He told them to get ready their weapons, to be sure there was no rust upon them, to sharpen them to work effectually: 'Make bright the arrows; gather the shields,' He said, 'because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of His temple.'
"And today when God calls His saved ones to battle against Satan and his wicked spirits, He tells us to 'Put on the whole armour of God.' But today it is not material weapons we have to sharpen and make bright and ready, but the spiritual armor. Among those are mentioned 'the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' And above all, prayer. Then go forth and prove that spiritual weapons are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. And remember that not only men and devils are watching you, but angels are watching also and rejoicing over your victories."
When the service was out, Eden was introduced to a number of the young people, and she promised to come to some of their other meetings. Her eyes were shining with new pleasure as they finally said good night and started away.
They stopped on the way for ice cream in a quiet little place where there was opportunity to talk. "Well, how did you like the speaker?" asked the young man, watching Eden earnestly.