`` Katherine ! '' `` Yes , it 's quite true . And of course we made up our minds to sacrifice ourselves on the altar of duty and all that . But now , thank goodness , there is no need of such wholesale immolation . So just let 's forgive each other . '' `` Oh , '' sighed Edith happily , `` it is almost too good to be true . '' `` It is really providentially ordered , is n't it ? '' said Katherine . `` Ned and I would never have got on together in the world , and you and Sidney would have bored each other to death . As it is , there will be four perfectly happy people instead of four miserable ones . I 'll tell Ned so tomorrow . '' Four Winds Alan Douglas threw down his pen with an impatient exclamation . It was high time his next Sunday 's sermon was written , but he could not concentrate his thoughts on his chosen text . For one thing he did not like it and had selected it only because Elder Trewin , in his call of the evening before , had hinted that it was time for a good stiff doctrinal discourse , such as his predecessor in Rexton , the Rev. Jabez Strong , had delighted in . Alan hated doctrines -- `` the soul 's staylaces , '' he called them -- but Elder Trewin was a man to be reckoned with and Alan preached an occasional sermon to please him . `` It 's no use , '' he said wearily . `` I could have written a sermon in keeping with that text in November or midwinter , but now , when the whole world is reawakening in a miracle of beauty and love , I ca n't do it . If a northeast rainstorm does n't set in before next Sunday , Mr. Trewin will not have his sermon . I shall take as my text instead , ` The flowers appear on the earth , the time of the singing of birds has come . ' '' He rose and went to his study window , outside of which a young vine was glowing in soft tender green tints , its small dainty leaves casting quivering shadows on the opposite wall where the portrait of Alan 's mother hung .
She had a fine , strong , sweet face ; the same face , cast in a masculine mould , was repeated in her son , and the resemblance was striking as he stood XXXXX the searching evening sunshine .
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