THE DISTURBING ELEMENT.
"We must have a Baby Show before the summer is over," said Mrs.
Greville, as she sat in the garden by Rachel's side darning stockings,
"and next year a Flower Show. The village has been dreadfully
neglected, evidently, by the last Rector."
"I don't think so," said Rachel. "He was a splendid visitor and was
looked upon as a father by the people."
"Perhaps; but there is nothing social by which to draw the people
together. Now a Women's Institute ought to be started."
"But you must remember there is not a single helper in the parish with
the exception of a very nice farmer's daughter, who conducts the whole
Sunday School. It would be impossible to start things here that need
helpers."
But Mrs. Greville was not to be put off.
"I expect if helpers were really looked for they would be found. I'll
look round the parish and see what I can do."
Rachel sighed.
"You won't make the people want things that they can't have, will you?"
she said.
"Certainly not. But there is no need to say they can't have them.
Anyhow I am here to help; and anything in the way of writing I am sure
you could do. There are two workers at once."
"Oh, you must not think of me as a worker," said Rachel. "I can only
just live." She had been more conscious of her weakness since her
mother-in-law's advent than ever before.
"My dear, of course you cannot be a worker in the ordinary sense. But
believe me you would feel all the better with something to interest
you a little. It never does anyone any good to lie and think about
themselves all day. I found that out when I was ill; and no sooner did
I begin to think of my work than I felt better at once."
Rachel was silent. She wondered how much longer she could endure the
intense activity of her mother-in-law. She thought she would have to
take to her bed; but she knew the air was the only thing for her.
"Let me see," continued Mrs. Greville. "There's a Mrs. Simpkins at
the bottom of the hill who has a fine boy, and next door is that poor
thriftless woman whose baby is nothing but skin and bones. It will do
the mothers a world of good having to weigh their babies; they'd be
ashamed then of their little puny creatures. We must certainly have the
Show before the summer is over. When shall it be?"
"Whenever you like," said Rachel wearily. Then she added, "Ask Luke."
"Oh it won't make any difference to Luke. It is a question for his
mother and wife to decide. Shall we say at the end of August?"
"Luke has a clerical meeting here one day in August. You had better ask
him."
"Will the clergy be here to tea?"
"Yes, and they come to lunch too."
"Come to lunch! How ridiculous! In these days to give lunch is quite
unnecessary I am sure. Why it can't be done under—"
"Oh don't say that to Luke," interrupted Rachel. "It's such a delight
to him to be able at last to offer hospitality to his brother clergy.
He is quite looking forward to it."
"Well I call it very unnecessary. What are they going to have? I hope
you are not preparing a spread. Because you have a rather better living
than your last it does not mean that you must forget the necessity of
being economical."
Rachel laughed hysterically. Here it was again! Eggs at 4d and
margarine instead of butter!
"Don't let us talk of economy yet," she said. "Let us enjoy, anyhow for
a time, being able to give something to one's neighbours."
"And pray who is going to do the cooking?"
"Emma. In her last place she had to cook for clerical lunches and knows
just what is necessary. And," she added laughing, "I mean to give them
a good lunch."
"What do you mean by a good lunch?"
Mrs. Greville sarcastically. "Do you intend to give them chickens? They
are nine shillings each at Trowsby."
"No I don't mean to give chickens. They are probably tired of them in
the country. But they shall have a good lunch, I am determined about
that, for Luke's sake."
"My dear you are talking like a very silly woman;" said Mrs. Greville
gravely.
"Am I? I am sorry, but for once in my life I mean to be silly. So you
must forgive me," said Rachel.
Mrs. Greville said no more, but came to the conclusion that Rachel was
a little light-headed, particularly as the conversation had set her
laughing weakly. She supposed her presence was too exciting for her,
so in a few minutes she picked up her work and made for the house, and
before long Rachel caught sight of her making her way towards the gate
with a note book and pencil in hand.
"She is going to look after the babies," sighed Rachel. "I hope she
won't make those poor mothers too miserable by her comments." Then her
mind reverted to one of Mrs. Greville's remarks.
"I wonder," she thought, "if she really imagines that I lie and think
of myself all day! A woman with a husband and child, not to mention a
mother-in-law and the housekeeping, has scarcely time to lead an idle
life even in thought. Little Pat's clothes would be enough to keep me
busy even if I had nothing else to do." And Rachel, who had laid down
her work while talking to Mrs. Greville, took it up again. It was not
long before she heard the gate open and her mother-in-law's somewhat
heavy tread on the gravel.
"You are back sooner than I expected," said Rachel. Mrs. Greville
looked tired and dispirited.
"Yes. I found my suggestion of a Baby Show rather upset the women. They
seemed to take offence and were up in arms at once. That thriftless
creature with the puny baby was almost rude to me, so I felt it would
be as well to put the show off for a time."
Rachel sighed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry that you have had your walk for nothing," she said, "but
on the other hand it would be such a pity to create an ill feeling.
Besides I would so much rather that our first gathering should be a tea
in the garden. They would get to know us then and Luke could talk to
them. I am bent, when I feel a little stronger, on inviting the whole
parish."
"Another expense," said Mrs. Greville.
"I know. But it need not be an annual affair; just a kind of house
warming."
"I wonder how much it would cost."
Rachel, who had been anticipating managing the tea herself directly
she felt strong enough, had noticed the disappointed expression on
Mrs. Greville's face when her plan of the baby show had failed; she
evidently felt a little depressed. Should she put the whole management
of the tea into her mother-in-law's hands? She knew Mrs. Greville would
not be happy unless she had plenty to do, In fact she was so restless
that she would make work if it were not provided for her. It would be
a disappointment, but anything was better than to have an unhappy,
restless, person in the house.
When Rachel asked Mrs. Greville if she would undertake the tea for her
she cheered up at once. Taking out her pocket book she put down the
probable number that they might expect, and began to discuss at once
how much bread would be wanted, and what the whole affair would cost.
"I shall give them margarine," she said. "It would be quite absurd to
go to the expense of butter." Rachel would have given them butter but
she knew it would be useless to suggest this.
"And the tea might be sugared also altogether. It is much easier to
have it all ready mixed with the milk."
"But some may not like sugar in their tea," objected Rachel.
"Well they mustn't mind it just for once," answered Mrs. Greville.
"It is by far the best way when you have a large party. Then I almost
think the cake and bread and butter had better be divided up before
they come, and put on their plates. They will all fare alike then, and
they'll know exactly how much they can have. If they don't want to eat
it all they can take it away with them."
"But they are not by any means all children. I want them to be treated
just as we should treat our own friends," Rachel expostulated. She
began to wish she had never asked her mother-in-law to undertake the
tea.
"But," said Mrs. Greville, "you see you have not had much experience
in these matters and have no idea how much easier it is if you arrange
everything beforehand. Method is everything on these occasions."
"But I want to make it really nice for the people," said Rachel
eagerly. "It's better not to have the tea at all than in any way to
hurt their feelings. I don't think for instance the men would at all
like the plan of the food being piled on to a plate. Besides I want
them to have sandwiches, and they would not be nice all mixed up with
cake. I do hope you don't mind," she added, seeing that Mrs. Greville,
who was considered such a first-rate caterer in Trowsby, was a little
flushed at the thought that her suggestions were not liked. "I fancy
that people in a country village would not be used to that kind of
thing; besides there will not be very many of them. I do want them to
have a dainty tea."
"Dainty? How do you mean?" said Mrs. Greville. She was evidently put
out.
"I mean the same kind of tea that we would give to our own personal
friends. Of course, rather thicker sandwiches as they would not
appreciate the thin ones, but I am thinking more of the way it is all
arranged."
"Well," said Mrs. Greville shortly, "if you will tell me exactly how
you wish things to be done I will follow your directions."
Rachel wished that the subject of the tea had never been mentioned. The
slight discussion had tired and rather worried her.
"Shall we talk about it another day?" she said, "there is plenty of
time, and," she added, "of course you may be right. I have had no
experience in such things and you have had so much."
Mrs. Greville was slightly mollified. She was not used to having her
plans criticised. She preferred criticising the plans of others.
"Well my dear," she said, "I don't think you need worry about it. I
promise you that your guests will have enough to eat; and after all
that is the main thing."
Rachel did not think so. She thought that the manner in which the food
was presented to them was as important as the food itself; but she did
not say so.
"You can leave it all in my hands perfectly happily," added Mrs.
Greville. "I will take the whole responsibility of it so don't worry
yourself. Why, you look quite flushed even at the thought of it. There
is really no need to be anxious," and Mrs. Greville moved towards the
house notebook and pencil in hand.
Rachel sighed.
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