THURSWELL IS UNDOUBTEDLY AN IDeal English village situated in the
midst of an agricultural county, and far away from the unhealthy and
demoralising influences of trade. It prides itself on being “select”--so
does every other English village, even when it lies deep embowered among
the striking scenery of a coal-mining district. But Thurswell is really
“select.” A strange family may come to one of the best houses--one
of the four or five that have entrance gates with lodges and carriage
drives--and yet remain absolutely ignored by the older residents. Of
course the shopkeepers pay the newcomers some little attention, and the
ladies who collect for the various charities and the various churches
are quite polite in making early calls; but the question of calling
formally and leaving cards simply because the people are newcomers,
requires to be thoroughly threshed out before it is followed by any
active movement on the part of the senior residents. It has been
called unsocial on this account; but everybody in the world--at least,
everybody in Thurswell--knows that to be called unsocial is only another
way of being called select The Rector must pronounce an opinion on the
strangers, and--more important still--the Rector's wife. The example of
the Barnaby-Granges, who have lived for centuries at the Moated Manor
House, must be observed for what it is worth. It is understood that
people like the Barnaby-Granges may call upon strangers out of a sense
of duty; but every one knows how far astray from the path trod by the
“select” a sense of duty may lead one, so that the fact of the Manor
House people having called upon the newcomer is not invariably regarded
as conferring upon the latter the privilege of a passport to the most
representative Society at Thurswell. The strangers must wait until Mrs.
Lingard and Miss Mercer have decided whether they are to be called on
or ignored. Mrs. Lingard is the widow of a captain of Sappers, and Miss
Mercer is the middle-aged daughter of a previous rector, and for years
these ladies have assumed the right of veto in respect of the question
of calling upon newcomers. Within the past year, however, this question,
it should be mentioned, has developed certain complications, owing to
the strained relations existing between the two ladies. Previously they
formed a sort of vigilance committee to determine what should be done,
but since the breaking off of diplomatic relations between them the poor
people who had previously looked to them jointly for guidance are
now compelled to consult them severally as to the course they mean to
pursue, and all this takes time, and the loss of time in the etiquette
of first calls may be construed into actual rudeness by sensitive
people.
That is how we stand at present; and although many well-meaning
persons--not invariably belonging to clerical circles--have endeavoured
to bring about a _rapprochement_ for the good of the whole community
between Mrs. Lingard and Miss Mercer, hitherto every effort of the kind
has failed.
When the particulars of the incident that brought about the friction
between the two ladies are known, it will easily be understood that
a restoration of the _status quo ante_ is not to be accomplished in a
moment.
It was all due to the exceptionally dry summer. People who retain
only the pleasantest recollections of that season of sunlight and balmy
breezes will probably find reason to modify their views respecting it
when they hear how it led to the shattering of an old friendship and,
incidentally, to the complication of the most important social question
that can come before such a community as is represented by Thurs-well.