the red acorn-第7章

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ose　who　envied　or　disliked　her　an　unprotected　spot　upon　which　to　launch　their　irritating　little　darts。

All　the　sewing；　dorcas　and　mite　societies　of　the　several　churches　in　Sardis　had　been　merged　into　one　consolidated　Lint…Scraping　and　Bandage…Making　Union；　in　whose　enlarged　confines　the　waves　of　gossip　flowed　with　as　much　more　force　and　volume　as　other　waves　gain　when　the　floods　unite　a　number　of　small　pools　into　one　great　lake。

In　other　days　a　sensational　ripple　starting；　say　in　the　Episcopalian　〃Dorcas；〃　was　stilled　into　calmness　ere　it　passed　the　calm　and　stately　church　boundaries。　　It　would　not　do　to　let　its　existence　be　even　suspected　by　the　keen　eyes　of　the　freely…censorious　Presbyterian　dames；　or　the　sharp…witted；　agile…tongued　Methodist　ladies。

And；　much　as　these　latter　were　disposed　to　talk　over　the　weaknesses　and　foibles　of　their　absent　sisters　in　the　confidential　environments　of　the　Mite　Society　or　the　Sewing　Circle；　they　were　as　reluctant　to　expose　these　to　the　invidious　criticisms　of　the　women　of　the　other　churches　as　if　the　discussed　ones　had　been　their　sisters　in　fact；　and　not　simply　through　sectarian　affiliation。　　Church　pride；　if　nothing　else；　contributed　to　the　bridling　of　their　tongues；　and　checking　the　free　circulation　of　gossip。

〃Them　stuck…up　Presbyterian　and　Episcopalian　women　think　little　enough　on　us　now；　the　land　knows；〃　Mrs。　Deborah　Pancake　explained　to　a　newly…received　sister；　whom　she　was　instructing　in　elementary　duties。　　〃There's　no　use　giving　'em　more　reason　for　looking　down　upon　us。　　We　may　talk　over　each　other's　short…comings　among　ourselves；　private　like；　because　the　Bible　tells　us　to　admonish　and　watch　over　each　other。　　But　it　don't　say　that　we're　to　give　outsiders　any　chance　to　speak　ill　of　our　sisters…in…Christ。〃

And　Mrs。　Euphrosyne　Pursifer　remarked　to　the　latest　agreeable　accession　to　the　parish　of　St。　Marks；　with　that　graceful　indirection　that　gave　her　the　reputation　in　Sardis　of　being　a　feminine　Talleyrand：

〃Undoubtedly　the　ladies　in　these　outside　denominations　are　very　worthy　women；　dear；　but　a　certain　circumspection　seems　advisable　in　conversing　with　them　on　subjects　that　we　may　speak　of　rather　freely　among　ourselves。〃

The　rising　fervor　of　the　war　spirit　melted　away　most　of　these　barriers　to　a　free　interchange　of　gossip。　　With　the　first　thrill　of　pleasure　at　finding　that　patriotism　had　drawn　together　those　whom　the　churches　had　long　held　aloof　came　to　all　the　gushing　impulse　to　cement　the　newly…formed　relationship　by　confiding　to　each　other　secrets　heretofore　jealously　guarded。　　Nor　should　be　forgotten　the　〃narrative　stimulus〃　every　one　feels　on　gaining　new　listeners　to　old　stories。

It　was　so　graciously　condescending　in　Mrs。　Euphrosyne　Pursifer　to　communicate　to　Mrs。　Elizabeth　Baker　some　few　particulars　in　which　her　aristocratic　associates　of　St。　Marks　had　grieved　her　by　not　rising　to　her　standard　of　womanly　dignity　and　Christian　duty；　that　Mrs。　Baker　in　turn　was　only　too　happy　to　reciprocate　with　a　similar　confidence　in　regard　to　her　intimate　friends　of　Wesley　Chapel。

It　was　this　sudden　lapsing　of　all　restraint　that　made　the　waves　of　gossip　surge　like　sweeping　billows。

And　the　flotsam　that　appeared　most　frequently　of　late　on　their　crests；　and　that　was　tossed　most　relentlessly　hither　and　thither；　was　Rachel　Bond's　and　Harry　Glen's　conduct　and　relations　to　each　other。

The　Consolidated　Lint…scraping　and　Bandage…making　Union　was　holding　a　regular　session；　and　gossip　was　at　spring…tide。

〃It　is　certainly　queer；〃　said　Mrs。　Tufis；　one　of　her　regulation　smiles　illuminating　her　very　artificial　countenance；　〃it　is　singular　to　the　last　degree　that　we　don't　have　Miss　Rachel　Bond　among　us。　She　is　such　a　LOVELY　girl。　　I　am　very；　very　fond　of　her；　and　her　heart　is　thoroughly　in　unison　with　our　objects。　　It　would　seem　impossible　for　her　to　keep　away。〃

All　this　with　the　acrid　sub…flavor　of　irony　and　insincerity　with　which　an　insincere　woman　can　not　help　tainting　even　her　most　sincere　words。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Tabitha　Grimes；　with　a　premeditated　acerbity　apparent　even　in　the　threading　of　her　needle；　into　the　eye　of　which　she　thrust　the　thread　as　if　piercing　the　flesh　of　an　enemy　with　a　barb；　〃yes；〃　she　pulled　the　thread　through　with　a　motion　as　if　she　enjoyed　its　rasping　against　the　steel。　　〃Rachel　Bond　started　into　this　work　quite　as　brash　as　Harry　Glen　started　into　the　war。　　Her　enthusiasm　died　out　about　as　quickly　as　his　courage；　when　it　came　to　the　actual　business；　and　she　found　there　was　nobody　to　admire　her　industry；　or　the　way　she　got　herself　up；　except　a　parcel　of　married　women。〃

The　milk　of　human　kindness　had　begun　to　curdle　in　Mrs。　Grimes's　bosom；　at　an　early　and　now　rather　remote　age。　　Years　of　unavailing　struggle　to　convince　Mr。　Jason　Grimes　that　more　of　his　valuable　time　should　be　devoted　to　providing　for　the　wants　of　his　family；　and　less　to　leading　the　discussion　on　the　condition　of　the　country　in　the　free　parliament　that　met　around　the　stove　in　the　corner　grocery；　had　carried　forward　this　lacteal　fermentation　until　it　had　converted　the　milky　fluid　into　a　vinegarish　whey。

〃Well；　why　not？〃　asked　Elmira　Spelter；　the　main　grief　of　whose　life　was　time's　cruel　inflexibility　in　scoring　upon　her　face　unconcealable　tallies　of　every　one　of　his　yearly　flights　over　her　head；　〃why　shouldn't　she　enjoy　these　golden　days？　　Youth　is　passing；　to　her　and　to　all　of　us；　like　an　arrow　from　the　bow。　　It'd　be　absurd　for　her　to　waste　her　time　in　this　stuffy　old　place；　when　there　are　so　many　more　attractive　ones。　　It　ought　to　be　enough　that　those　of　us　who　have　only　a　few　remnants　of　beauty　left；　should　devote　them　to　this　work。〃

〃Well；〃　snapped　Mrs。　Grimes；　〃your　donation　of　good　looks　to　the　causeeven　if　you　give　all　you　gotwill　be　quite　modest；　something　on　the　widow's　mite　order。　　You　might　easily　obey　the　scriptural　injunction；　and　give　them　with　your　right　hand　without　your　left　knowing　what　was　being　done。〃

Elmira　winced　under　this　spiteful　bludgeoning；　but　she　rallied　and　came　back　at　her　antagonist。

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　she　said　quietly；　〃the　thought　often　occurs　to　me；　that　one　great　reason　why　we　both　have　been　able　to　keep　in　the　straight　and　narrow　path；　is　the　entire　lack　of　that　beauty　which　so　often　proves　a　snare　to　the　feet　of　even　the　best…intentioned　women。〃

It　was　Mrs。　Grimes's　turn　to　wince。

〃A　hit！　a　palpable　hit！〃　laughed　pretty　Anna　Bayne；　who　studied　and　quoted　Shakespeare。

〃The　mention　of　snares　reminds　me；〃　said　Mrs。　Grimes；　〃that　I；　at　least；　did　not　have　to　spread　any　to　catch　a　husband。〃

〃No；〃　returned　Elmira；　with　irritating　composure；　〃the　poorer　kinds　of　game　are　caught　without　taking　that　trouble。〃

〃Well〃Mrs。　Grimes's　temper　was　rising　so　rapidly　that　she　was　losing　her　usual　skill　in　this　verbal　fence〃Jason　Grimes；　no　doubt；　has　his　faults；　as　all　men　have；　but　he　is　certainly　better　than　no　husband　at　all。〃

〃That's　the　way　for　you　to　think；〃　said　Elmira；　composedly；　disregarding　the　thrust　at　her　own　celibacy。　　〃It's　very　nice　in　you　to　take　so　cheerful　a　view　of　it。　　SOMEBODY　had　to　marry　him；　doubtless；　and　it's　real　gratifying　to　see　one　accepting　the　visitations　of　Providence　in　so　commendable　a　spirit。〃

To　use　the　language　of　diplomacy；　the　relations　between　these　ladies　had　now　become　so　strained　that　a　rupture　seemed　unavoidable。

〃Heavens；　will　this　quarrel　ne'er　be　mended？〃　quoted　Anna　Bayne；　not　all　sorry　that　these　veteran　word…swordsmen；　dreaded　by　everybody；　were　for　once　turning　their　weapons　on　each　other。

Peace…making　was　one　of　the　prerogatives　assumed　by　Mrs。　Tufis；　as　belonging　to　the　social　leadership　to　which　she　had　elected　herself。　She　now　hastened　to　check　the　rapidly…opening　breach。

〃Ladies；〃　she　said　blandly；　〃the　discussion　has　wandered。　　Our　first　remarks　were；　I　believe　about　Miss　Bond；　and　there　was　a　surmise　as　to　her　reasons　for　discontinuing　attendance　upon　our　meetings。〃

The　diversion　had　the　anticipated　effect。　　The　two　disputants　gladly　quit　each　other；　to　turn　upon　and　rend　the　object　flung　in　between　them。

〃Why　Rachel　Bond　don't　come　here　any　more？〃　said　Mrs。　Grimes；　with　a　sniff　that　was　one　of　the　keenest…edged　weapons　in　her　controversial　armory。　　〃When　you　know　how　little　likely　she　is　to　do　anything　that's　not　going　to　be　for　her　benefit　in　some　way。　　She's　mighty　particular　in　everything；　but　more　particular　in　that　than　in　anything　else。〃

〃I'll　admit　that　there　is　reason　to　suspect　a　strain　of　selfishness　in　Rachel's　nature；〃　said　Anna　Bayne；　〃but　it's　the　only　blemish　among　her　many　good　qualities。　　Still；　I　think　you　do　her　an　injustice　in　attributing　her　absence　from　our　meetings　to　purely　selfish　motives。〃

〃Of　course；　we　all　know　what　you　mean；〃　said　Elmira。　　〃She　set　her　cap　for　Harry　Glen；　and　played　her　cards　so　openly　and　boldly〃

〃I　should　say　'shamelessly；'〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Grimes。

〃Shamelessly；　my　dear？〃　　This　from　Mrs。　Tufis；　as　if　in　mild　expostulation。

〃Shamelessly；〃　repeated　Mrs。　Grimes；　firmly。

〃Well；　so　shamelessly；　if　you　choose；〃　continued　Elmira；　〃as　to　incur　the　ill…will　of　all　the　rest　of　the　girls〃

〃Whom　she　beat　at　a　game　in　which　they　all　played　their　best；〃　interrupted　Anna。

〃That's　an　unworthy　insinuation；〃　said　Elmira；　getting　very　red。　〃At　least；　no　one　can　say　I　played　any　cards　for　that　stake。〃

〃Wasn't　it　because　all　your　trumps　and　suit　had　been　played　out　in　previous　games？〃　　This　from　Mrs。　Grimes；　whose　smarting　wounds　still　called　for　vengeance。

For　an　instant　a　resumption　of　hostilities　was　threatened。　　Mrs。　Tufis　hastened　to　interpose：

〃There's　no　doubt　in　my　mind　that　the　poor；　dear　girl　really　took　very　deeply　to　heart　the　stories　that　have　been　circulated　about　Harry　Glen's　conduct；　though　there　are　people　ready　to　say　that　she　was　quite　willing　to　play　the　role　of　the　stricken　one。　　It　really　makes　her　look　very　interesting。　　Mourning　and　the　plain　style　of　wearing　her　hair　suit　her　very；　VERY　well。　　I　do　not　think　I　ever　saw　her　looking　so　lovely　as　she　has　lately；　and　I　have　heard　quite　a　number　of　GENTLEMEN　say　the　same　thing。

〃If　she'd　had　real　spirit；〃　said　Mrs。　Grimes；　〃she'd　have　dropped　Harry　Glen　without　all　this　heroine…of…a…yellow…covered…novel　demonstration；　and　showed　her　contempt　of　the　fellow　by　going　ahead　just　as　usual；　pretending　that　his　conduct　was　nothing　to　her；　but　she's　a　deep　one。　　I'll　venture　anything　she's　got　a　well…laid　scheme；　that　none　of　us　dream　of。〃

〃Mrs。　Tufis；〃it　was　the　calm；　even　tones　of　Rachel　Bond's　voice　that　fell　upon　the　startled　ears　of　the　little　coterie　of　gossipers。　She　had　glided　in　unobserved　by　them　in　the　earnestness　of　their　debate。　　〃How　long　has　she　been　here　and　what　has　she　heard？〃　was　the　thrilling　question　that　each　addressed　to　herself。　　When　they　summoned　courage　to　look　up　at　her；　they　saw　her　standing　with　perfectly　composed　mien；　her　pale　face　bearing　the　pensive　expression　it　had　worn　for　weeks。　　With　subdued　and　kindly　manner　she　returned　the　affectionate　greetings　that　each　bestowed　on　her；　in　imitation　of　Mrs。　Tufis；　who　was　the　first　to　recover　her　wits　and　then　continued：

〃Mrs。　Tufis；　I　come　to　you；　as　president　of　this　society；　to　apologize　for　my　absence　from　so　many　of　your　meetings；　and　to　excuse　myself　on　the　g