His church was always crowded, except when he changed with some
brother minister, whose pulpit was within reach--in which case, a great
portion of his congregation followed him. Many flattering "calls" had
the gifted and eloquent country parson received to metropolitan
parishes; but he remained the faithful shepherd of his own flock as long
as they would hear his voice.
As Miriam grew into womanhood prudence kept her silent on the subject of
her strange vow. She, however, preserved in her memory the slight
indexes that she already had in possession--namely, beginning with
Marian's return after her visit to Washington--her changed manner, her
fits of reverie, her melancholy when she returned empty-handed from the
post-office, her joy when she received letters, which she would read in
secret and in silence, or when questioned concerning them, would gently
but firmly decline to tell from whom or whence they came; the
house-warming at Luckenough, where Marian suddenly became so bright and
gay, and the evening succeeding, when she returned home through night
and storm, and in such anguish of mind, that she wept all night; and the
weeks of unexplained, unaccountable distress that followed this! All
these things Miriam recalled, and studied if by any means they might
direct her in the discovery of the guilty.
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