"shemurmured."Iknewitallalong.Thewayhelookedatmewasenough—wewomenhavesuchquickperceptions!Poorboy,howhemustsuffer!"
ShepromisedherselfthatnoharshwordofhersshoulddriveJamesintotheearlygravewherelaythelove-lornAlgyTurner.Andshesighed,thinkingwhatacurseitwastopossessthatfatalgiftofbeauty!
WhenLittlePrimptonheardthenews,LittlePrimptonwasagitated.Certainlyitwasdistressed,andevenvirtuouslyindignant,butatthesametimecompletelyunabletodivestitselfofthatlittleflutterofexcitementwhichwassorare,yetsoenchanting,avariationfromthemonotonyofitsdailycourse.Thewell-informedwalkedwithalighterstep,andheldtheirheadsmorejauntily,forlifehadsuddenlyacquiredanovelinterest.Withsomethingnewtotalkabout,somethingfreshtothinkover,withalegitimateobjectofsympathyandresentment,thetorpidbloodracedthroughtheirveinsasmightthatofstatesmenduringsomecrisisinnationalaffairs.LetusthankGod,whohasmadeourneighboursfrail,andinHisinfinitemercycausedhusbandandwifetoquarrelTom,Dick,andHarrytofallmoreorlessdiscreditablyinlovethisdearfriendofourstolosehismoney,andthatherreputation.Inallhumility,letusbegratefulforthescandalwhichfallsatourfeetlikeripefruit,fortheDivorceCourtandforthenewspapersthat,withawittysemblanceofhorror,reportforusthespicydetails.Ifatcertainintervalsproprietyobligesustoconfessthatwearemiserablesinners,hasnottheLordsoughttocomfortusintherecollectionthatwearenothalfsobadasmostpeople?
Mr.DrylandwenttotheVicaragetoentercertificatesintheparishbooks.TheVicarwasinhisstudy,andgavehiscuratethekeysoftheironsafe.
"SophieBunchcamelastnighttoputupherbanns,"hesaid.
"She'sgoingtomarryoutoftheparish,isn'tshe?"
"Yes,aTunbridgeWellsman."
Thecuratecarefullyblottedtheentrieshehadmade,andreturnedtheheavybookstotheirplace.
"Willyoucomeintothedining-room,Dryland?"saidtheVicar,withacertainsolemnity."MrsJacksonwouldliketospeaktoyou."
"Certainly."
Mrs.JacksonwasreadingtheChurchTimes.Herthin,sharpfaceworeanexpressionofstrongdisapprovalh