370: Lorna returned ...
Herb ’n’ Lorna, Chapter 16 continues
Lorna returned to Chacallit and visited her Uncle Luther. She was able to sell him everything she had on hand, but Luther was seventy-three now, ill, and nearly blind. He hadn’t been active in the coarse-goods business for nearly thirteen years. He squinted through an enormous magnifying glass at the pieces Lorna had brought, and he told her that he didn’t consider these anywhere near the quality of her best work. The prices he offered Lorna were thirteen-year-old prices, but Lorna had no other outlet for her work, so she took what he offered her. He had made some inquiries before she arrived, so he had several prototypes for new couples to show her. Lorna examined them, closely and carefully, and as she studied them her stomach grew cold, her throat tightened, her eyes moistened, her fingers began to tremble. “These — ” she said, and she was astonished to find that she was about to cry. She took her handkerchief out and coughed in it, dabbed quickly at her eyes. “These aren’t very good,” she said. She swallowed. “They’re not from the same person — the same man — are they? They’re not. I can tell they’re not.”
“No,” said Luther. “There are quite a few people doing this stuff now. But, to tell you the truth, they’re not as good as they once were. None of this stuff is today. No one takes pains. No one — ”
“What — what became of the other one — the other man — the one who was so good?”
“Became of him? I don’t know. How should I know? I certainly never knew who he was or ever wanted to know. If I did know, I wouldn’t tell you, Lorna. You know that. Discretion is the foundation of business. I have always made that my watchword. One of my watchwords. You can be thankful of it. I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted me to go telling anyone who asked that you were the author of some of this work, would you?”
“To tell you the truth, Uncle Luther, sometimes I almost wish you had. Sometimes I wish everyone knew about it.”
“Don’t be foolish. You would be an absolute pariah. Your husband would abandon you. Your daughter would turn her back on you. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” said Lorna. “Still, I wish I knew what had happened to him — the man who — ”
“I can tell you what probably happened to him. What probably happened to him is what will happen to all of us in God’s own time. He probably died.”
Lorna was heartbroken.
[to be continued on Friday, October 28, 2022]
In Topical Guide 370, Mark Dorset considers Watchwords, Mottoes, Words of Wisdom, Words to Live by, Words to the Wise from this episode.
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