Pride House: The Quest for Vainglory

Chapter 37 The Fitting

  Since it was tedious to stand in one place for so long, Reason was glad for a distraction when Pride appeared at the sewing room door, shyly, a notebook in his hand. She was immobilized on a chair, while gathered around her, Faith, Love, and Faithfulness measured this and pinned that and chattered about patterns, gussets, peplums and other matters quite mysterious to her. She had, in fact, just been wishing for her hand held chess computer or a good book.

  Pride, for his part, was as surprised to find his cousin in white satin and lace as if he had not known about the wedding. He had known, but had given it little thought. Now he found that Reason looked lovely, and not least because her dark, expressive eyes were no longer hidden behind glasses.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  “Do interrupt,” Reason answered. “I need someone to talk to. Yes, come in, it’s all right. Were you looking for me?”

  He looked down somewhat apologetically at the notebook. “I just needed a little help on a speech I’m writing. I’m expected to say a few words when they make me deacon Sunday at the Mammon Mart Church. Not much, and I don’t want to overdo it, but I don’t want to muff it either.”

  She said, “I really don’t know why you bother with the whole thing. But read me what you’ve got so far.”

  “Well, nothing really. I just wrote that I thank them and that I’ll do my best, and that I accept their doctrines and bylaws.”

  “Which are what?”

  “Huh?”

  “What are their doctrines and bylaws?”

  “Oh, they’re quite sound doctrinally. The pastor sent me their statement of faith.” He held up a colorful pamphlet.

  “You had better sit down while I read this,” she said, taking it from his hand.

  “Oh, no, I didn’t mean for you to do that. I just wanted help with the wording of my speech.”

  Reason fended off his objections and began to devour the document.

  “Well, it’s all there,” she commented after a few minutes. “The Trinity, Christ’s deity, the atonement....”

  “Didn’t I tell you?”

  “Just the same, I think you’d better let Truth have a look at it. It doesn’t sound quite right.”

  “Really?” he responded dully.

  “Not a bit right. For one thing, they frequently mention Faith, but I don’t believe they’ve ever actually met her at Mammon. Have they?’

  “No,” sighed Faith. “I tried to attend one of their services once and was turned away at the door.”

  “Then why are they writing about you, Mom?” asked Love, who had taken the pamphlet from Reason and was examining it. “It says here you’re present at every service.”

  “Hypocrisy hired an actress to impersonate me,” said Faith. “Her name is Good Works and it’s her they mean when they talk about me. She’s really quite a ringer. From a distance you’d never suspect it wasn’t me.”

  “Look, cous’ ,” said Reason to Pride, “it’s not my place to tell you what to do—”

  “But don’t go to that church?” Pride responded. “Yes, I expected you to say that. But let me tell you that I’m engaged in evangelization there. What about that? Should I let Vainglory perish—and perhaps others?”

  “Vainglory!” Faith turned to him with an incredulous smile. “Surely you don’t mean to convert her?”

  “And why not?”

  “Because—because—” she shrugged. “This is one of those that’s hard to put into words. But I will say this, Vainglory can never be converted. Yes, you want to know why. Love, help me.”

  “What Mom’s saying is that not everyone’s got a soul to be saved. It makes me shudder, but Vainglory is a sort of mirage.”

  Pride’s expression darkened. “And how do you know that?”

  Love paused and turned troubled eyes toward her mother.

  “It’s not necessary that she answer that,” said Faith. “You know that Love is trustworthy, and that’s enough.”

  Pride looked from one to the other. “OK, OK. I didn’t say she wasn’t. Just that I don’t get what she’s saying.”

  He turned to go, but Reason called out after him suddenly, “Pride! When did you say this speech of yours is?”

  “Sunday morning, why?”

  She avoided his eye, ashamed for him. “Oh Pride, that’s my wedding.” She began to form tears.

  “Don’t worry!” His voice was hard with anger and embarrassment. “I honestly forgot, but I’ll make it to both, of course. I’ll just have them let me say my part early in the service, and then I’ll hurry over here. It’s no big deal.”

  “You can’t treat her like that,” said Faithfulness, who had been quiet until now. Her young face was flushed. “This is your cousin. She’s waited all her life for this.”

  Reason dropped off the chair and approached him, dragging her train. “I won’t get married without you here.”

  “I’ll be here! Didn’t I say that?”

  “What are you so chummy with Hypocrisy for?” she challenged tearfully. “You have a pastor right here, he’s my fiancé. Isn’t he good enough for you? Or are you ashamed because he’s black? Are you ashamed of me?” She paused and touched her hand to her mouth.

  The afternoon sunlight fell across the room, making her dress shimmer, while specks of dust in the air were illuminated like a river of pearls floating around her.

  “It’s nothing like that,” Pride said softly. “You look—really nice in your dress, cous’. Look, I’ll talk with Pastor Hypocrisy and get it worked out. Don’t worry. I wouldn’t hurt you.”

  He hurriedly left the room.