"We read about it in the paper," said his sister sympathetically. "It must have been a harrowing thing to go through."
"It certainly was! But the acquittal helped. The woman is very young and without friends, and I was glad to get it for her."
"But she's bad!" cut in Waldstricker. "Every paper said she was guilty."
"But the jury pronounced her innocent," exclaimed the lawyer, "so that puts an end to the argument!"
Ebenezer fingered the leaves of the book he held.
"I've the happenings of a week to tell you, Deforrest," he stated deliberately, as if dismissing the former subject.
Professor Young bent down and slipped off his overshoes.
"I'm awfully tired, old chap," said he. "Won't they keep till morning? I'd like a bite to eat, and then--then bed." He smiled at his sister. "How about something to eat, sis, dear?"
"Helen, go see about supper for your brother," ordered Ebenezer.
Mrs. Waldstricker, seemingly glad to escape, left the room quickly.
"Fire ahead, Eb," said Young. "I suppose I might as well hear it now as any time."
"You sent Parson Griggs a letter for me to vote in your name?"
"Of course," responded Young. "I knew Helen was interested in the Christmas festival, and I thought you'd do as well as I."
"And so I did, brother," replied Ebenezer, pompously, "and your vote turned the tide into the channel God wanted it. Some members allowed their human feelings to run away with 'em."
Ebenezer's mysterious words suddenly awakened Deforrest's interest.
"Has something out of the ordinary occurred?" he queried.
"Yes," assured Eb, "but I've attended to it all right!"
Professor Young sighed.
"That's good! There, now, I'll sit by the grate and warm up while you tell me about it."
He dropped into a large chair, and extended his feet to the cheerful blaze. Waldstricker paused before making his explanation. At length: "We put a member out of the church last Wednesday," said he, steadily.
Deforrest Young turned completely around and stared at his brother-in-law.
"Put a member out of the church!" he repeated, thunder-struck. "Why church a member?... That is out of the ordinary, I should say. What'd he do?"
"It wasn't a man, 'twas a woman."
"Well, for God's sake!" Deforrest's voice was low, deep, and filled with disgust. "I hope you men didn't make a mess of yourselves.... What happened?... Some girl kissed her sweetheart under the pine trees?"
The elder glanced over the top of his brother-in-law's head.
"Worse than that!" said he. "Much worse than that!... We churched a Magdalene!"
It took an appreciable length of time for Young's tall figure to rise from the chair. He turned around and stood with his back to the fire.