XI

adnevercaredtospeak. "Mydear,ifitistobebrokenthereisnoyoungladyIwouldsoonerentrustwiththejob." "Youdon'tmindhismarryinganadventuress,then?" "Mydear,Iknowofnoadventuress." "Youratherlikeouroldpeopletobetemptedtodrink,tohaveitthrustuponthemontheirverydyingbeds?" "Kate,areyounotbitter?" "Psha,"saidhiswife,drummingherfoot. "Psha,Kate?"inquiredthevicarmildlyanditisnotalwaysthatthesaintlyproduceasoothingeffectontheirwives. ItreallyseemedasifthegirlweretohaveherownwayinSymford,uncheckedevenbyLadyShuttleworth,whoseattitudewasentirelyincomprehensible.Shewastobeallowedtocorruptthelittlehamletthathadalwaysbeensogood,toleaditastray,tolureitdownpathsofforbiddenindulgence,toturnittopsyturvytoanextentnotevenreachedbytheDissentingfamilythathadgivensomuchtroubleafewyearsbefore.ItwasontheSundaymorningasthechurchbellswereringing,thatMrs.Morrison,prayer-bookinhand,lookedinatMrs.Jones'sonherwaytoserviceanddiscoveredthefive-poundnote. TheoldladywasproppedupinbedwithheropenBibleonherlapandherspectacleslyinginit,andasusualpresentedtohervisitortheperfectrealizationofheridealastothelooksandmannersmostappropriatetoailingChristians.Therewasnowhereatraceofrum,andtheonlyglassintheroomwasinnocentlyfilledwiththechinarosesthatfloweredsoprofuselyinthegardenatBaker'sFarm.ButMrs.Morrisoncouldnotforallthatdissemblethedisappointmentandsternnessofherheart,andtheoldladyglancedupatherasshecameinwithakindofquaveringfearfulness,likethatofalittlechildwhoisafraiditmaybegoingtobewhipped,orofaconscientiousdogwhohaslapsedunaccountablyfromrectitude. "Ihavecometoreadthegospelforthedaytoyou,"saidMrs.Morrison,sittingdownfirmlybesideher. "Thankyoumum,"saidMrs.Joneswithmeekness. "Myprayer-bookhassuchsmallprint—givemeyourBible." AlookofgreatanxietycameintoMrs.Jones'seyes,buttheBiblewasdrawnfrombetweenhertremblingoldhands,andMrs.Morrisonbegantoturnitspages.Shehadnotturnedmanybeforeshecametothefive-poundnote."Whatisthis?"sheasked,inextremesurprise. Mrs.Jonesgavealittlegasp,andtwistedherfingersabout. "Afive-poundnote?"exclaimedMrs.Morrison,holdingitup."Howdiditcomehere?" "It'smine,mum,"quaveredMrs.Jones. "Yours?DoyoumeantosayyouhavemoneyhiddenawayandyetallowLadyShuttleworthtopayeverythingforyou?" "It'sthefirstIever'ad,mum,"faintlymurmuredtheoldlady,hereyesfollowingeverymovementofMrs.Morrison'shandswithalookofalmostanimalanxiety. "Wherediditcomefrom?" "Theyoungladygiveitmeyesterday,mum." "Theyounglady?"Mrs.Morrison'svoicegrewveryloud."DoyoumeanthepersonstayingatthePearces'?" Mrs.Jonesgulped,andfeeblynodded. "Mostimproper.Mostwrong.Mostdangerous.Youcannottellhowshecamebyit,andImustsayI'msurprisedatyou,Mrs.Jones.Itprobablyisnotarealone.Itisunlikelyachitlikethatshouldbeabletogivesolargeasumaway—"AndMrs.Morrisonheldupthenotetothelightandturneditroundandround,scrutinizingitfromeverypointofview,upsidedown,backtofront,sideways,withoneeyeshutbutitrefusedtolooklikeanythingbutagoodfive-poundnote,andshecouldonlyrepeatgrimly"Mostdangerous." Theoldladywatchedher,ate