The Judas Kiss

The young clergyman cleared his throat.

"As we are all met together," he began, "I will read you a letter I have
received from our father."

"Listen, girls," said Jasper flippantly, "our reverend brother has
apparently had a message from On High. It may be important."

"Where is he, Garnie?" enquired Emerald, the older sister.

"Does he say when he will be back?" asked Pearl, the youngest of them
all.

Garnet replied to their questions in what they called his parson voice.

"I will read the letter," he repeated. "It will tell you all I know."

Again he cleared his throat, and holding his missive in front of him, he
started--

'My dear Garnet,

It is nearly three months since I left you, to convalesce after that bout
of 'flu. It was good of you all to offer to accompany me, but I thought
it best to be alone, especially as I did not know exactly where I meant
to go and wished to be free to wander as I felt inclined. I have always
tried to make you independent, so that you could carve your own careers.
I trust I have in some measure succeeded. It would not have helped for
you to be tied to me.

I sincerely hope that no one of you will feel there is any measure of
reproach in what I have to tell you. When your Mother died, four years
ago, you shared my grief but you imagined that the radio, cross-word
puzzles and an occasional game of bowls or golf would satisfy and fill my
life for such years as might be left me. But you were wrong! The natural
urges of life do not end at fifty!'

"What is he getting at?" Emerald injected. "He is fifty-seven."

Garnet ignored her. He proceeded--'As my occasional postcards will have
shown you, I have wandered far and wide. I have had many interesting
experiences and think I can say I am as fit as ever I was. I have now met
a lady who I am sure can make me happy. I am about to marry her--'

Jasper whistled.

Emerald echoed, "To marry her!"

Garnet went on:

'I will not attempt to describe her to you, as you will so soon see her
for yourselves. We plan to be home in about a fortnight. I will wire the
day of our arrival as soon as it is settled. I hope you will love her for
my sake and am confident, when you know her, you will love her still
better for her own.

Naturally I have told her about you and she is anxious to meet you all.
We want you to carry on the home just as in the past--until any of you
have other plans. We discussed what you should call her. I fully realise
no one can ever be to you what your dear Mother was, and we agreed it
would be best for you to call her by her first name, Adelaide.

We send our love, assured that a warm welcome awaits us.

Your affectionate father,

GEORGE MICHELMORE.'

The silence that followed the conclusion of the letter lasted for several
moments. It was broken by Jasper.

"Oughtn't we to send a telegram of congratulations and good wishes, or
something?"

"He gives no address," Garnet said. "The postmark on the envelope is St.
Malo."

"Is he married or is he about to be married?" Emerald asked, rather
indignantly. "He might have given us the chance to be there. Why not
bring her home and marry here?"

"It would be unusual for a man to marry his father," Garnet remarked,
"but I would have liked at least to attend the ceremony."

"Poor Daddy!" Pearl murmured. "I had no idea he was so lonely. I often
sat with him and watched the TV. I would have done anything he asked, but
he never would."

"Perhaps he wanted something a daughter could not give," Jasper said.

"I hope she will make him happy," Pearl replied.

The door of the room opened and a slight figure dressed in black entered.

"I will bring the coffee, if you're ready," she said. "I didn't 'ear the
bell."

"We have had rather a shock, Nan," Emerald explained. "Father has just
written that he has married again."

Nan was nearing sixty. She had been nurse to all of them and had stayed
on as housekeeper. She prided herself on never showing surprise at
anything any member of the family might do.

"Indeed. May I ask who to?" Her tone was quite unemotional.

"He does not tell us," Garnet answered. "He wishes it to be a pleasant
surprise. We are to expect them in about a fortnight."

"Then p'raps I shall not be wanted no more?"

"Don't say that, Nan!" Pearl cried impetuously. "We can not do without
you. We may need you more than ever."

"He says they wish us to carry on as before," Jasper added.

"Then I'll get the coffee."