This echo of the rector's words fell upon the girl's brain like hammer blows on an anvil. She felt herself growing weak, unsteady, at a loss how to reply. With a great effort she pulled herself together, and at last she said, unconscious echo of her own words spoken to the rector:
"I am glad to have been of service to Mr. Farrar." Then, gathering still greater self-control, she added: "But now I want to do even more for you, because I feel that yours is the greater need."
And the woman replied:
"The greatest service you can do for me is to be good to my children after I am gone."
"But, Mrs. Farrar, you are not going to die. It—it's absurd!"
"Oh, yes. I am going to die. I've thought it all out. I'm going to die, and you are going to marry Mr. Farrar."
"Mrs. Farrar!"
The girl sprang to her feet and put her hands before her eyes, shocked at this full revelation of the other woman's mind.
The minister's wife went on mechanically:
"Oh, I don't charge you with having planned it in advance. You are too good to do that, and he is too loyal to me. But you are going to marry him, nevertheless, and it will be an ideal marriage. You will make him a perfect wife"
"Mrs. Farrar, stop! You must not say such things! You are wild!"
Ruth's face was scarlet, and her eyes were wide with horror. But Mrs. Farrar would not stop.
"You will make him a perfect wife," she repeated. "You are in such close accord. He will be very fond of you, and you will both be very happy; very happy!"
"Stop! I'll not listen to you!" The girl put both hands to her ears and backed away. "I'll not listen to you," she repeated. "I'll not stay!"
