Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/80

64 D’Aubigné. Surely you hear much that is repugnant to your feelings.” “I have been greatly interested,” said she; “the Church had fallen into a very low and corrupt state, and needed purification. The Reformation was a great blessing to it, and it has felt the benefit ever since.”

On another Western journey Mr. Carter met with a lady, who rather attached herself to the ladies of his party, sitting with them on deck, and joining in conversation. One evening she complained of the cold, and requested Mr. Carter to ask her husband to get her a shawl. “I did not know your husband was with you.” She described his appearance, and said he was in the saloon. Mr. Carter found him gambling with some other men, and told him that his wife wanted a shawl, “I can’t be bothered to get it now. She won’t suffer.” The man never came near his young wife till they were about to disembark and go with the rest of the passengers to a hotel for the night. The next afternoon the lady was sitting with Mr. Carter’s party in the hotel parlor when he came to summon them to go to the train. When they arose, she rose too as if to accompany them. He said to her, “I met your husband just now, Madam, and he said you were not going.” She turned deadly pale, and sat down again, but just as the train was starting the young couple came hurriedly along, and got on the next car. Something in their appearance struck Mr. Carter, and he went in to look for them after travelling some miles, but they were gone. He asked the conductor if he knew what had become of them, and was told that they had no money, and he had put them off the car. Some years afterwards Mr. Carter was relating this incident on an ocean steamer, when a lady, greatly interested, inquired