"I'm sure of it! Thousands of them. It's not right to expect a
clergyman's wife to be an unpaid curate--plus a housekeeper, and it
needs special grace to stand a succession of committees. How would it
be to drop some of the most boring duties and concentrate upon the
things that you could do with all your heart? You'd be happier, and
would do more good!"
"Do you think I should?" She clutched eagerly at the suggestion.
"Really, I believe you are right. As you say, I have not the strength
to play the part of an unpaid curate."
But that misquotation roused me, and I contradicted her sharply.
"Excuse me! I said nothing of the sort. You are strong enough to do
anything you chose. It is not strength that is wanting, but--"
"Go on! You might as well finish, now you've begun. But what?"
"_Love_!"
She gave a little gasp of astonishment.
"Love! For whom?"
"Your neighbours. Your husband. God!"
"Oh, _it you_ are going to preach next!" she cried impatiently. She
jumped up from her seat, whirled round, and flounced from the room.
Mr Maplestone came in to tea. He is quite a frequent visitor here I
find. Besides the fact that he is a vicar's churchwarden, it appears
that he has known Delphine since she was a child, so that he is
absolutely at home with her, and evidently very fond of her, too, in a
cousinly, elder-brotherly, absolutely matter-of-fact way. The first
time I saw him was quite early one morning when, hearing unusual sounds
of merriment from the dining-room, I opened the door, and beheld the
Vicar seated in an arm-chair, looking on with much amusement, while the
Squire held a box of chocolates in one upraised hand, and Delphine
capered round him, snatching, and leaping into the air like an excited
little dog. It was a festive little scene until my head came peeping
round the corner of the door, and then the fun collapsed like the
pricking of a bubble. The Squire's face fell, likewise his hand; he
jerked stiffly to attention, stiffly handed over the chocolates, stiffly
bowed to me, stared at my uncovered head.
"Oh, I didn't tell you! Evelyn is staying here for a fortnight before
going away."
He mumbled. I mumbled. The Vicar rose from his seat and made for the
door.
"Well, we shall see you to lunch to-morrow, Ralph. I have several
points to discuss. Delphine, we shall meet at the Parish Room at
twelve?"
"Oh! That committee? I suppose so," Delphine said ungraciously. She
tore open her box, helped herself to the largest chocolate in the centre
row, and offered me the next choice. Ralph Maplestone took up his hat.
"Oh, for goodness sake, don't you run away, too! _You_ haven't a
committee. There are heaps of things I want to say still. Ralph"--she
went to his side and stared eagerly in his face--"did you mean what you
said the other day, about teaching me to ride?"
"Why not?" he said easily. "If you'd care about it, I'd be only too
glad. Bess would carry you well, and she's as safe as a house. You
could come up and practise in the park. If I were busy, Jevons could
take you round. He'd teach you quite as well, or better, than I should
myself."
"Oh!"--she beamed at him, a picture of happiness--"it will be fine!
I've always longed to ride. And afterwards, when I'm quite good--I feel
it in my bones that I _shall_ be good--will you still--"
He laughed good-naturedly. He is extraordinarily good-natured to
Delphine.
"Lend you Bess? Certainly. As often as you like. Do her good to have
the exercise."
"And when I'm _very_ good--very good indeed--will you--"
He shook his head.
"Ah, hunting is a different matter. Rather a responsibility. What? We
must see what John says. In the meantime, you'll get a habit?"
"Yes." She glanced at me quickly, and glanced away. "Where shall I go?
Would Matthews--"
Matthews was the local tailor. The Squire waved aside the suggestion
with masculine scorn.
"Certainly not. Do the thing properly when you are about it. Nothing
worse than a badly-cut habit. Better go up to town!"
Again Delphine glanced at me. The obvious thing was for me to return
her invitation and invite her to stay with me for the transaction, but
obviously I couldn't do it. Moreover I did not _want_ to, so I stared
blankly before me, and resigned myself to being thought a mean thing.
"Oh, well--I'll manage somehow," Delphine said in a tone of finality,
which was obviously intended to stop the discussion.