Read Online Grand Canary by A. J. Cronin - Free Book Online Page A

knew betimes the ardour of salvation.
    Susan, inevitably, though of a tender disposition, took a back seat in the home. She was devoted to her brother; she was a good girl: but she was not a paragon. Thus whilst Robert entered theological college she was allowed without demur to enter as a probationer-nurse at the John Stirling Hospital.
    The years rolled on and the day of Robert’s ordination gloriously arrived. What a moment of pride for the little baker and his wife! Forgetting the toil and rigours of those years of scrimping sacrifice they dressed in their sober best and entrained joyfully for Connecticut.
    But there was sad perversity about that train. Six miles out of Trenton it fouled a point and ran into the embankment. Little damage was done: only two lives were lost. But these were Josiah and Emily Tranter. Robert, of course, was painfully upset. There was a touching scene when the news was broken to him as he came out, ordained, from Unity Temple. Susan said less. She could not be expected to feel the blow so keenly. But she fainted twice in the ensuing month whilst on duty in the wards They said at the hospital she had a heart lesion and advised her kindly to relinquish the idea of institutional work.
    Thus she came to live with her brother at Okeville, his first pastorate. Here she lavished everything upon Robert. She desired no more. But he, though zealous and successful, was less settled. He was restless. He had inherently an ardent and romantic mind. He wanted, though he knew it not, to see the colour and to feel the texture of the world. After one year he resigned his pastorate, entered his name for the foreign mission field.
    His sincerity was known, his capabilities recognized, his step approved. It was understood that his health was not robust. Moreover, in the movement the directing mind of the Rev Hiram McAtee was turning – like Alexander’s – to fresh fields of conquest. There had been, too, under special circumstances, a persistent demand from the Canaries. Robert was sent out, not to China nor the Congo, but to Santa Cruz. And Susan, of course, accompanied him
    That briefly was his history. And now he faced his sister with a tolerant eye.
    â€˜I surely am serious, Sue,’ he went on steadily. ‘Believe me, I have a hunch that Mrs Baynham might be saved. There’s more hope for the conversion of the scoffer than the soul which is just plumb apathetic. And it would be a great happiness indeed to me if I should be the Lord’s humble instrument to bring this soul to grace.’ His eye kindled: he thrilled to the glory of the thought.
    She gazed at him in silence, touched by a troubled colour, and almost wistful. Then with a gust came a swirl of rain upon the skylight, succeeded by a laughing exclamation from above. There was the sound of footsteps upon the companion, and Mary ran through the doorway, her small white sand-shoes spattered, her wind-blown hair clustered with pearling raindrops.
    â€˜It rains, it rains,’ she chanted. ‘All hands are piped below.’
    Elissa, Dibdin, and Corcoran followed her into the saloon.
    â€˜By George!’ said Dibs with a nautical stagger, ‘that was a squall. Sudden if you like – what?’
    Elissa, having shaken the lapels of her coat, was staring at the Tranters. ‘ You’ve been singing,’ she announced loudly. ‘How terribly diverting. And the harmonium – too, too sweet. You treadmill upon these pedal things, don’t you? But you mustn’t stop. You must entertain us. Delicious. Too simply delicious.’ And ranging herself beside the others on the long plush settee she assumed an air of bland expectancy.
    Awkwardness at once was in the air, but though Susan’s flush still lingered her voice was firm.
    â€˜We have been singing to our Maker,’ she said distinctly. ‘We don’t just regard that as an entertainment.’
    Elissa affected a puzzled