The Seventh Hour

by Grace Livingston Hill

  "Oh yes, I know, Father, we feel that way about her of course, but she's ours, and we love her. That's not saying every young man is going to fall in love with her. And I don't like the idea of running any risks with our treasure-girl. I don't know as we should invite him here so much."

  "But, Mother, I don't understand. I thought you had just been praying for a number of months that the Lord would protect our dear girl and would send some worthy strong Christian man to love and shelter her through her life if it was His will, and now when He seems to have done it you want to step in and try to frustrate His plans! How's that, Mother, can't you trust your Lord?"

  Mother Shannon looked at her husband startled.

  "But, Father, I didn't really expect the Lord to send such a wonderful-looking man, with a voice like that!"

  "Oh, Mother, Mother! Would you presume to dictate to your Lord just how the little girl's sweetheart should look, and have him sing the wrong notes at times, so you won't be afraid of him? Little mother, just get you down on your knees and tell your Lord you're trusting Him, and ask Him not to let our darlin's heart be broke, and then let come what He shall send."

  "Well, I guess you're right, Father," said Mother Shannon, smiling half sheepishly. "I guess I just wasn't trusting fully, was I?"

  And then those two sweet old Christians knelt hand in hand and prayed about their dear child.

  And Dana Barron went home thanking his heavenly Father that he had found such delightful Christian friends, and especially a girl like Valerie Shannon.

  ***

  The next morning Coralie's Bible came, quite early before she was up.

  The maid brought the package in with her breakfast tray, and Coralie was so excited about it she forgot to eat her breakfast until everything was quite cold.

  However, that didn't matter to her in the least. She sat against her pillows eating, one hand out touching the soft leather of the beautiful book, her eyes shining as they had not shone in years.

  She made short work of breakfast and dressed as rapidly as she could. She was in a hurry to get to that Bible.

  And then when she finally settled down to investigate it, she had no more idea than a child how to go about reading it. Should she begin at the beginning? She let the pages slide softly through her fingers, catching sentences here and there that seemed intriguing, the clear print standing out alluringly from the India paper.

  Then she turned to the beginning and started. A strange sort of fairy tale it was to her, for she had never read before how the world was made. The teachings of science with regard to the beginnings had been so vague that they had scarcely touched her mind as real. They had faded into the unknown as soon as her studies were completed. But now this book stated that God had made out of nothing the heaven and the earth, and incredible as it might be it seemed more sensible as a belief than any of the follies and foibles of so-called science that she had been supposed to study in school.

  Coralie belonged to a bridge club that met that morning, with a costly fee for being absent, but she read on regardless, forgetting all about it. The telephone rang insistently after a time and she answered it, annoyed at the interruption. She was wide-eyed at the drama of the world that was opening in the pages before her.

  It was Myrtina Dalrymple.

  "What in the world is the matter with you, Corinne? Haven't you started yet? Don't you know you're holding us all up! You're the limit! What do you think we are, ladies of leisure? We're all furious at you. Are you just starting? Make it snappy. We haven't a substitute at all today!"

  "Oh! The Club! Sorry, Myrt. I completely forgot it. No, I can't possibly come today. Get Doris Foster. She'll be charmed to pieces to be asked, and they say she plays a perfect game. What's that? A lovely prize? Sorry, but I'm not in line for any kind of a prize this morning. What's that? The fee? Oh, sure! I'll pay up! No, really, I can't possibly come this morning. Sorry I didn't let you know sooner, but I was so busy I completely forgot what day it was. Yes, get anybody in my place you like."

  She hung up and went breathlessly back to her Bible, dimly conscious that the story she was reading must be the foundation of all the references one heard and read relating to one Adam and a Garden of Eden. She had realized long ago that these things were supposed to be common knowledge, but she had always been rather vague about them. Why had she never come on this before?

  She had left Adam and Eve hiding from God, and she wanted to see how it came out. Of course, they could not hope to hide from a God who had made them and made the universe and everything. And yet perhaps that was just what everybody tried to do when they had sinned.

  And while Coralie read on in the sacred Book, Valerie between her multiplicity of duties, and Dana in his office alone working out new problems, and Bruce up in Boston going from place to place making new contacts for his company, were all finding time to pray for her.

  Weary at last with her unaccustomed employment, Coralie reached the end of a chapter and closed her book softly, with a touch on its soft flexible covers like a caress, and knelt, herself, to talk to the God about whom she had been reading and with whom she felt quite a good deal better acquainted than she had the night before.

  Late that afternoon after she had been out for a brisk walk in the crisp, cold air it occurred to her to wonder where Lisa was.

  It was not the first time that Lisa had disappeared without a word, but it had been a long time since she had done it. Not since Dinsmore Collette had finally taken himself away had it happened, Coralie recalled. Always after some terrible clash, it was Lisa's method of punishing people, to disappear, and well Coralie knew that she was the one who was being punished now. Only would Lisa have stayed so long if she had known what a relief this little time of quiet was to the girl just now? And how glad she was to be rid of Errol Hunt as an accompaniment to every evening?

  Coralie sighed as she thought how all too brief would the respite probably be. If she had gone to some house party, or up to a mountain resort where winter sports were beginning, they would not last forever, and Lisa would return, either to bleed her somehow for money or to spring some unpleasant surprise of a new marriage, perhaps. And when she came Coralie would have to be on the alert.

  She thought with relief of her invitation to the Shannons'. The weekends were always worst, and if Lisa did not return until then, she would have a refuge. Was it supposable that if she stayed away often enough from Lisa's evenings that Errol Hunt might seek other pastures?

  But if she should come sooner, where should she find haven? She could not bear the thought now of ever companying again with the crowd that frequented her home. Something had happened since Dana had come into her life, and his friend Bruce, that had changed her. She wanted to get away from all that had gone before.

  "I would tell you how He changed my life completely," sang the words of Dana's song as if in answer to her thoughts. Was it that that had come to her? No, she had no right yet, surely, to count herself among those who felt the confidence of having Jesus Christ as their friend. Bruce had said God loved her, and was ready to save her, and she had only to believe, but she wasn't sure she knew yet what believing was. It all seemed too simple!

  Still something had come to her that had made her utterly dissatisfied with her former way of living, and she could not settle down even for a morning or an evening to amuse herself as she used to do. What was it?

  There was another letter there from Dinsmore Collette when she returned from her walk. A short threatening letter. It sounded so like himself that it fairly made her tremble.

  So, you are hiding behind silence! If you do not answer within the next day or two I will find a way to make you answer.

  I understand that you are alone in the apartment while your mother is enjoying herself with her friends. If you prefer, I will come to you while you are alone there and find a way to make you hand over what money I need. If, however, you choose to send me your check for five hundred at the above address by Friday afterno
on, I will say no more about it and will see that you have no further trouble in the matter. These are not idle words. Remember, I always keep my promises.

  Your loving stepfather,

  Dinsmore

  Horror of horrors, the address was nearby. She could not, she simply could not remain here!

  Well, he would not come tonight. He would likely wait till Friday, and if Lisa had not come, then what should she do? She would not dare to stay here alone. Should she call on Dana for help? Tell him all about it? How she shrank from that!

  And how did Dinsmore find out that Lisa was gone? There must be something in the papers that gave him the clue. He was never one who let anything get by. He always found out the things he wanted to know.

  She rang for the papers to be brought to her, yesterday's and today's, and searched them carefully. Lisa never did anything quietly. No more, however trivial, was allowed to pass without a dramatic touch to it. Yes, here it was! Lisa's picture in the midst of a sporty group on skis. Coralie hadn't realized that it was late enough for skiing, but in Canada, of course. That was a two-year-old picture, but that wouldn't bother Lisa. The descriptive column that followed the picture noted a dozen or more of Lisa's friends who were in the party, and of course, Errol and Ivor were of the number.

  She turned from the paper with a sneer of scorn on her lips. Lisa, her mother, hurrying around to sport her beauty everywhere in the limelight. Poor Lisa! No! She couldn't tell Dana all about their mother. Dana who loved his father so much would feel it too keenly. No, she must avoid telling Dana if possible all about this terrible stepfather, who had disappeared and now had come back, unwanted and unheralded. Oh, how terrible life could be!

  Still, it would always be possible to call to Dana for help. She must think out some plan and get ready in case she got too frightened.

  But the next morning as she contemplated another grim, silent day full of horrible possibilities, her heart shrank and at times she was almost ready to call up some of her old friends and go a-pleasuring. Not that there was any particular thrill in anything she knew the rest of her former group would be doing, but anything, anything would be better than waiting here alone for Dinsmore, or Errol.

  But no, she dared not go out alone now, for fear that man would be on the lookout for her. Then her eye would fall on her new Bible and her look would soften and lose its desperation, and she would settle to read once more.

  Not that she understood all of what she read, of course. The brief explanations at the foot of the pages were in such unknown phrases that she scarcely comprehended what they were meant to convey sometimes. Yet, through it all she gathered the thought of a God who had made people because He wanted them and loved them, bad as they had become, and wanted them to be good. And somehow it kept her reminded of her new brother, and his friend.

  So she kept herself indoors that day, reading, idling about, putting her small affairs in order, and her private papers in such shape that no stepfather, or even mother could find them and gain any inkling of how much she had or where it was kept. She arranged matters so that if she was called upon by circumstances to go away suddenly, she would leave no telltale papers behind and would not find them too bulky to carry. She hunted out a suitable little innocent-looking leather handkerchief case in which to carry them, and camouflaged the whole with collars and handkerchiefs in such a way that no searcher would suspect they were there. All this occupied several hours of a day that in spite of her prolonged reading began to hang heavy on her hands.

  So it was with great joy that late in the afternoon she heard Bruce's voice over the telephone, calm, assured, friendly.

  "Hello! Are you all right? And could you possibly spare time to have dinner and give me at least part of your evening tonight?"

  Could she? Oh, how joyously she would accept that invitation. Fear suddenly fled from her, and a new kind of joy took its place. She was going to see Bruce again and could ask him a great many questions. He had come back to New York, and New York suddenly seemed safe and sane again.

  "Oh, yes. I'll love to accept," she said eagerly.

  "You're sure I'm not interfering with any plans of your own?"

  "Oh, no!" she said with a great relief in her voice. "I had no plans. Lisa is away, and annoying things have happened. I'll be so glad to come. And I want to thank you for the beautiful Bible. I love it. I never had one before."

  "Oh, did it reach you? I'm glad you like it."

  "May I bring it along and ask you some questions?"

  "I wish you would. I'll find a quiet place somewhere where we can talk after dinner. How soon may I call for you? Is six o'clock too early?"

  "No indeed. I'll be ready."

  After that there was no more loneliness. Her heart was fairly singing with pleasure. She was glad he was coming early and they could get away before there was danger of someone calling. Or there was always the possibility of Lisa's return, and then there would be questionings. Somehow she didn't want this first call of Bruce's spoiled by anything like that. Lisa could be so disagreeable when she chose, and she would surely choose this time, if she came and discovered him there. Coralie had no illusions about the unpleasant scene that would surely take place when Lisa returned. She had probably thought it out carefully in every detail, with a purpose of breaking her daughter's will, as she had always been able to break it before this. Coralie knew that Lisa had by no means given up the idea of getting what money she needed from her. And there would be more gambling debts probably, added to the old ones. Lisa would not have been away these days with her special crowd without new gambling debts, and expenses for travel and hotel bills. She sighed as she hurried about her room getting ready to go out with Bruce. Money! What a trouble it was. Both mother and disowned stepfather trying to make her give up what her own father had been able to save for her! Oh! But they never should. It was not worth so much trouble except that it was precious because her father had left it to her, and never, never would she let them have it. It was a sacred trust that she must keep. If Lisa was ever in need she would care for her, but it should not go for dishonorable debts.

  Joyously she prepared for the simple outing. She dressed in a plain brown suit with a short brown fur jacket to match, and never stopped to notice how exquisitely the fur collar brought out the soft tinting of her cheeks, the color of her eyes and hair, nor knew what a pretty picture she had made of herself.

  The Bible had a case of leather like its cover. Simple, plain, like any handbag of soft leather. It would not be conspicuous anywhere. She tucked her purse and handkerchief inside the case and laid her gloves close at hand, ready at a moment's notice.

  She had packed her bag to go to Valerie's that morning, and the case with her valuable papers was well hidden under her garments. She took the precaution to put the bag far back in her closet, behind more elaborate suitcases. In case Lisa returned during her absence it would not be where she would be likely to look for it. Then she was ready, and she kept a close watch from her window.

  She met him shining-eyed, and greeted his smile with one as radiant. Bella eyed them and wondered. Now who was this young man with the brilliant hair and the look of gladness in his eyes? Was Miss Corinne putting something over while her mother was away? The young man wasn't exactly shabby, yet he wasn't arrayed in quite the garb of the usual guests of the house. Well, it was none of her business, and he certainly was a good-looker. Besides, Miss Corinne had a hard time of it sometimes, and Bella herself wasn't keen on Errol Hunt. Why shouldn't the young lady play around with someone interesting now and then?

  So Bella watched the two away with satisfaction.

  Bruce took her to a nice place he knew where the food was good and the people were of the quiet type. There was a large, pleasant reception room, which they had almost to themselves after dinner, and they took possession of two comfortable chairs near a lighted table and studied the new Bible to their hearts' content.

  It was when they were on their way back to the apar
tment that Bruce spoke about the meeting Friday evening and asked if she would like to go again, saying that he knew Dana was to sing, and he would be glad to call on her unless she had some other escort.

  "I certainly would!" she said eagerly. "I--there is something----someone I would like to avoid Friday evening--and that will give me a good excuse to be away. You see, Lisa is away, and I'm not just sure when she is returning, and--I'm rather afraid of this person who might turn up. I suppose it's silly, but I'll be glad to be out."

  He gave her a quick anxious glance and wondered.

  "How about Saturday morning? Would he come then?"

  "Oh, I think not, not in the morning. But anyway, I am spending the weekend with Valerie Shannon, so that is all taken care of."

  "Yes?" he said questioningly but smiled over the lilt in her voice. "You like Valerie?" he asked.

  "Oh, I do!" said Coralie fervently. "She's not like any of the other girls I know. I would have liked to be born into a home like that."

  "Yes," said Bruce, a gentle look coming into his eyes. "That is a wonderful home!"

  After that he insisted on going up in the elevator with her and lingered a minute or two at the door of the apartment, although he wouldn't come in.

  "You're quite sure you are all right tonight?" he asked a bit anxiously as he heard the elevator coming.

  "Oh, yes, quite all right tonight," she said brightly. "And thank you so much for the lovely evening, and the instruction."

  He smiled.

  "All right! I'll see you Friday evening then," and he was gone.