A perceptible shade of annoyance passed over Parson Dan’s face, and a sharp word of retort sprang to his lips.  He repressed this, however, and answered as gently as possible.

“You know, Mrs. Marden,” he began, “that often I am the last person to hear what is being said throughout the parish.  I try not to listen to all the gossip which takes place, as I have more important things to occupy my mind.  So——­”

“And you don’t consider my troubles important enough to listen to, eh?” Mrs. Marden interrupted.  “Well, I declare.  I never heard the like of that, and you my clergyman, too.”

“Let me explain, please,” the parson continued.  “As I said, I seldom listen to gossip, because so much of it is of such a frivolous nature.  Therefore, when anything of real importance is talked about, as a rule I do not hear that, either.  In that way I have missed your story, Mrs. Marden.  But when you come yourself to tell me, that makes all the difference, and I am ever ready to listen.”

While Parson Dan was thus enduring with considerable patience his wearisome visitor, Rodney was creeping about the kitchen floor in a most lively manner.  The dining-room door was ajar, and at last when Mrs. Royal’s back was turned, he reached forth a small chubby hand, opened the door and entered.  The parson saw him, but paid no attention to his movements.  Mrs. Marden, however, who was sitting with her back to the door, was so occupied with her load of troubles that she neither saw nor heard the baby’s entrance.  On all-fours Rodney glided behind the widow’s chair.  Here against the wall stood a tall, slender cabinet, the lower shelves of which were filled with books, while above were various knick-knacks, all neatly arranged.  It took Rodney but a second to scramble to his feet, and balance himself by clutching firmly at the cabinet which was not fastened to the wall.  Then the inevitable happened.  The cabinet at first trembled, and then began to fall.  Parson Dan saw it coming, and with a cry he leaped to his feet, and caught it as it was about to crash upon Mrs. Marden’s head.  He could not, however, stop the knick-knacks, and so tea-cups, saucers, work-basket, a china dog, and numerous other articles were showered upon the widow, thus adding to her woes.

With a startled cry Mrs. Marden sprang to her feet, certain that the ceiling had fallen upon her.  Hearing the confusion, Mrs. Royal rushed into the room, rescued Rodney unhurt from the ruins, and carried him back into the kitchen.  The clergyman at once turned his attention to his visitor.

“I trust that you are not hurt,” he remarked.  “I am so sorry that this accident happened.”

“I’m not hurt,” was the feeble response, “but I feel very faint,” and the widow sank into a chair, and closed her eyes.  “There, I feel better now,” she continued, breathing heavily.  “Oh, what a shock that gave me!  My troubles never cease.  Just think, I might have been killed if the good Lord had not stopped that thing from falling.”