第36章

The apparent absence of any padding in the broad shoulders of the frock coat he wore, to her mind, more than compensated for the "ready-made" scarf, and if the white waistcoat was not fashionably cut, she knew that _she_ had never been able to afford a pique skirt of just that particular grade.

"Suppose we go into the reception-room," he observed abruptly."Charlie bought a new clock last week that's a marvel.You ought to see it.""No," she answered."I am quite comfortable here, and I want to see how Page does in this act.""I am afraid, Miss Dearborn," he continued, as they found their places, "that you did not have a very good time Sunday afternoon."He referred to the Easter festival at his mission school.Laura had left rather early, alleging neuralgia and a dinner engagement.

"Why, yes I did," she replied."Only, to tell the truth, my head ached a little." She was ashamed that she did not altogether delight in her remembrance of Jadwin on that afternoon.He had "addressed" the school, with earnestness it was true, but in a strain decidedly conventional.And the picture he made leading the singing, beating time with the hymn-book, and between the verses declaring that "he wanted to hear everyone's voice in the next verse," did not appeal very forcibly to her imagination.She fancied Sheldon Corthell doing these things, and could not forbear to smile.She had to admit, despite the protests of conscience, that she did prefer the studio to the Sunday-school.

"Oh," remarked Jadwin, "I'm sorry to hear you had a headache.I suppose my little micks" (he invariably spoke of his mission children thus)" do make more noise than music.""I found them very interesting."

"No, excuse me, but I'm afraid you didn't.My little micks are not interesting--to look at nor to listen to.

But I, kind of--well, I don't know," he began pulling his mustache."It seems to _suit_ me to get down there and get hold of these people.You know Moody put me up to it.He was here about five years ago, and I went to one of his big meetings, and then to all of them.And I met the fellow, too, and I tell you, Miss Dearborn, he stirred me all up.I didn't "get religion." No, nothing like that.But I got a notion it was time to be up and doing, and I figured it out that business principles were as good in religion as they are--well, in La Salle Street, and that if the church people--the men I mean--put as much energy, and shrewdness, and competitive spirit into the saving of souls as they did into the saving of dollars that we might get somewhere.

And so I took hold of a half dozen broken-down, bankrupt Sunday-school concerns over here on Archer Avenue that were fighting each other all the time, and amalgamated them all--a regular trust, just as if they were iron foundries--and turned the incompetents out and put my subordinates in, and put the thing on a business basis, and by now, I'll venture to say, there's not a better _organised_ Sunday-school in all Chicago, and I'll bet if D.L.Moody were here to-day he'd say, 'Jadwin, well done, thou good and faithful servant.'""I haven't a doubt of it, Mr.Jadwin," Laura hastened to exclaim."And you must not think that I don't believe you are doing a splendid work.""Well, it _suits_ me," he repeated."I like my little micks, and now and then I have a chance to get hold of the kind that it pays to push along.About four months ago I came across a boy in the Bible class; I guess he's about sixteen; name is Bradley--Billy Bradley, father a confirmed drunk, mother takes in washing, sister--we won't speak about; and he seemed to be bright and willing to work, and I gave him a job in my agent's office, just directing envelopes.Well, Miss Dearborn, that boy has a desk of his own now, and the agent tells me he's one of the very best men he's got.

He does his work so well that I've been able to discharge two other fellows who sat around and watched the clock for lunch hour, and Bradley does their work now better and quicker than they did, and saves me twenty dollars a week; that's a thousand a year.So much for a business like Sunday-school; so much for taking a good aim when you cast your bread upon the waters.The last time I saw Moody I said, 'Moody, my motto is "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, praising the Lord."' I remember we were out driving at the time, I took him out behind Lizella--she's almost straight Wilkes' blood and can trot in two-ten, but you can believe _he_ didn't know that--and, as I say, Itold him what my motto was, and he said, 'J., good for you; you keep to that.There's no better motto in the world for the American man of business.' He shook my hand when he said it, and I haven't ever forgotten it."Not a little embarrassed, Laura was at a loss just what to say, and in the end remarked lamely enough:

"I am sure it is the right spirit--the best motto.""Miss Dearborn," Jadwin began again suddenly, "why don't you take a class down there.The little micks aren't so dreadful when you get to know them.""I!" exclaimed Laura, rather blankly.She shook her head."Oh, no, Mr.Jadwin.I should be only an encumbrance.Don't misunderstand me.I approve of the work with all my heart, but I am not fitted--I feel no call.I should be so inapt that I know I should do no good.My training has been so different, you know,"she said, smiling."I am an Episcopalian--'of the straightest sect of the Pharisees.' I should be teaching your little micks all about the meaning of candles, and 'Eastings,' and the absolution and remission of sins.""I wouldn't care if you did," he answered."It's the indirect influence I'm thinking of--the indirect influence that a beautiful, pure-hearted, noble-minded woman spreads around her wherever she goes.I know what it has done for me.And I know that not only my little micks, but every teacher and every superintendent in that school would be inspired, and stimulated, and born again so soon as ever you set foot in the building.Men need good women, Miss Dearborn.