JamesknewhewouldseeMaryatthetea-partywhichMrs.JacksonthatafternoonwasgivingattheVicarage.SocietyinLittlePrimptonwasexclusive,withtheresultthatthesamepeoplemeteachotherdayafterday,andtheonlyintruderswereoccasionalvisitorsofirreproachableantecedentsfromTunbridgeWells.Respectabilityisaplantwhichinthatfashionablewatering-placehasbeensoassiduouslycultivatedthatitflourishesnowintheopenairliketheyellowgorse,itisfoundineverycorner,thrivinghardilyunderthemostunfavourableconditionsandthekeenerthewind,theharderthefrost,themoreproudlydoesitholditshead.Butonthisparticulardaythegatheringwasconfinedtotheimmediateneighbours,andwhentheParsonsarrivedtheyfound,besidetheirhosts,onlytheClibbornsandtheinevitablecurate.Therewasaprolongedshakingofhands,inquiriesconcerningthehealthofallpresent,andobservationssuggestedbytheweatherthentheysatdowninacircle,andsetthemselvestodiscussthequestionsoftheday.
"Oh,Mr.Dryland,"criedMary,"thankssomuchforthatbook!Iamenjoyingit!"
"Ithoughtyou'dlikeit,"repliedthecurate,smilingblandly."IknowyousharemyadmirationforMissCorelli."
"Mr.Drylandhasjustlentme'TheMasterChristian,'"Maryexplained,turningtoMrs.Jackson.
"Oh,Iwasthinkingofputtingitonthelistformynextbook."
TheyhadformedaclubinLittlePrimptonoftwelvepersons,eachbuyingasix-shillingbookatthebeginningoftheyear,andpassingitoninreturnforanotherafteracertaininterval,sothatattheendoftwelvemonthsallhadreadadozenmasterpiecesofcontemporaryfiction.
"IthoughtI'dliketobuyitatonce,"saidMr.Dryland."IalwaysthinkoneoughttopossessMarieCorelli'sbooks.She'stheonlyreallygreatnovelistwehaveinEnglandnow."
Mr.Drylandwasamanoftasteandauthority,sothathisliteraryjudgmentscouldalwaysbereliedon.
"Ofcourse,Idon'tpretendtoknowmuchaboutthematter,"saidMary,modestly."TherearemoreimportantthingsinlifethanbooksbutIdothinkshe'ss