“I didn’t see you, Mrs. Marden,” the parson gasped, as he tried to recover his breath as well as his composure.

“So I observe,” was the somewhat sarcastic reply, as the visitor surveyed her rector.  “I knocked long and loud, but as there was no response, I took the liberty to enter.  I am sorry that I have intruded.  Perhaps I had better go.”

“No, no, you must not think of such a thing,” the parson replied, as he handed her a chair, and then struggled quickly into his coat, which he had cast aside at the beginning of the frolic.  He was annoyed at Mrs. Marden’s intrusion into the privacy of his family life, especially when he was off guard.  He knew that she had come on some important business, as she otherwise never darkened the rectory door.

“You’ve become quite a family man, so I understand,” she began.  “It’s the first time that I’ve seen the baby.  I suppose you’ll put him in the Orphan Home in the city.”

“No, I shall do nothing of the sort,” was the emphatic reply.  “He shall stay here until his mother comes for him.”

“H’m,” and the widow tossed her head in a knowing manner, “then you’ll have him on your hands for a long time.  Do you for a moment imagine that a mother who is heartless enough to leave her baby with total strangers, will come for him?  Not a bit of it.  Mark my word, she’s only too glad to be rid of it, and is off somewhere now having a good time.  I should be very careful, if I were you, about bringing up such a child.  You can’t tell who his parents are, and he may inherit all their bad qualities.”

The clergyman made no reply.  He merely stroked his chin, and thought of the sob he had heard at the door that dark night.

“Such a child,” Mrs. Marden continued, in her most doleful voice, “is sure to bring trouble upon you sooner or later.  But, then, we all have our troubles, and must expect them.  Ever since poor Abner was taken from me my life has been full of trials and tribulations.  He was very good to me, and we were so happy.”

At this point the widow produced her handkerchief, and wiped away the tears which were flowing down her cheeks.  Parson Dan knew, and all the neighbours knew, that if Mrs. Marden’s life was “full of trials and tribulations” after her husband’s death, Mr. Marden had more than his share of them before he died, due directly to his wife’s incessant nagging.

“Yes, I have my troubles,” and the widow resumed her tale of woe.  “They never cease, for just as soon as one is removed another springs up.”

“Why, what’s wrong now?” the parson queried.

“What! haven’t you heard?” and the visitor looked sharply at the clergyman.

“No, I can’t say that I have, especially of late.”

“Dear me, and it’s the talk of the whole parish.  But, then, I suppose you’ve been so taken up with this new addition to your family that you have had no time to give to the cares of the widow and the fatherless.”