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The next day Carl saw Theresa at the Millers house. She was very upset and flung her
arms about his neck crying, 'you said you wouldn't have to go. I don't want you to.' 'It must be so, Theresa.' Carl held Theresa tightly in his arms though he had been with Vereen the night before. 'Don't you want to marry me, Carl?' she said. 'Of course he does,' said the Miller. 'But there wouldn't be much point now, would there?' 'Why not? Why shouldn't I marry Carl?' 'You're not going with him and the chances are he won't be coming back. So what'd be the point?' Theresa stared into her father's face, amazed at her predicament. 'Then I'll go as well.' 'You're too young,' said the old man quickly. 'They won't let you go.' 'I'll run away. I'll follow him. You can't stop me doing that!' 'Theresa, you're all we have. You must understand...' began the Miller sadly and was interrupted by the arrival of Carl's sister Ruth, her husband Iram and old Willard. They had been to petition the Pastor. The looks on their faces indicated their lack of success. Ruth sagged into a chair and Iram leant upon the table. Willard said, 'Like we thought. Once they've been called they must go. There'll be no relief.' 'My children!' screamed Ruth. 'Who'll care for them when we are gone?' 'Never fear, Ruth,' said Harding. 'They'll be taken care of. Theresa and I will see to that, isn't that so, Theresa? They'll grow up big and strong and be waiting for you when you get back.' Ruth began to sob uncontrollably. 'Iram,' he said, ' why don't you take her into the other room and lay her down?' 'I thought you said they wouldn't be coming back, father?' said Theresa angrily. The Miller took his daughter by the arm and shook her roughly. 'How should I know if they will or not? But if it's true would you have the truth forced down her throat? They're all going. Your brothers, Carl and his brothers. Do you realize how many children will be left? Who's going to look after them? Old men like me? Where will we get food? Soon, I'll be dead, then what? Will the children die? If they die, Dentonsville will go forever. And you want to run away and follow Carl. Your place is here, child. You'll have a lot to do.' 'That's right, Theresa,' old Willard intervened with the Miller, putting a kindly arm about the girl's shoulders. 'You're our only hope. You can't leave us, don't you see?' Eventually Theresa said, through bitter tears, 'then I will stay if I must, but I wish that I could marry Carl.' 'Maybe that could still be arranged,' said the Miller, looking at Carl. |
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