VALLEY

CHAPTER XIVMRS. ALEC DAVIS MAKES A CALLJOHN MEREDITH walked slowly home.At firsthe thought a little about Rosemary, but by the timehe reached Rainbow Valley he had forgotten all abouther and was meditating on a point regarding Germantheology which Ellen had raised. He passed throughRainbow Valley and knew it not. The charm of RainbowValley had no potency against German theology.When he reached the manse he went to his study andtook down a bulky volume in order to see which hadbeen right, he or Ellen. He remained immersed in itsmazes until dawn, struck a new trail of speculation andpursued it like a sleuth hound for the next week,Heutterly lost to the world, his parish and his family.read day and night he forgot to go to his meals when;Una was not there to drag him to them; he neverthought about Rosemary or Ellen again. Old Mrs.Marshall, over-harbour, was veryill and sent for him,but the message lay unheeded on his desk and gathereddust. Mrs. Marshall recovered but never forgave him.A young couple came to the manse to be married andMr. Meredith, with unbrushed hair, in carpet slippersand faded dressing gown, married them. To be sure,he began by reading the funeral service to them and- 142