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care. It amounts to living in open sin with him. The rector
can’t
let it pass. It’s an open insult to me, making me sit at the same table with them. Every hand against me. I’ve no friends. They only want my money. Eleanor’s as bad as the rest. She’s tried to poison the rector’s mind against me. She’s jealous of me. The play was
my
idea and now she’s talking as if it was hers. The rector must be warned. I’ll ask him to hear my confession on Friday. I’ll confess the unkind thoughts I’ve had of Eleanor Prentice and before he can stop me I’ll tell him what they were and then perhaps he’ll begin to see through Eleanor. Then I’ll say I’ve been uncharitable about Mrs. Ross and Dr. Templett. I’ll say I’m an outspoken woman and believe in looking facts in the face. He
must
prefer me to Eleanor. I ought to have married. With my ability and my money and my brains I’d make a success of it. I’d do the Rectory up and get rid of that impertinent old maid. Dinah could go back to the stage as soon as she liked, or if Eleanor’s gossip is true, she could marry Henry Jernigham. Eleanor wouldn’t care much for that. She’ll fight tooth and nail before she sees another chatelaine at Pen Cuckoo. I’ll back Eleanor up as far as Dr. Templett and his common little light-of-love are concerned, but if she tries to come between me and Walter Copeland she’ll regret it. Now then, I’ll speak.”
    And bringing her large, ugly hand down sharply on the table she said:
    “May I have a word?”
    “Please do,” said Mr. Copeland nervously.
    “As secretary,” began Miss Campanula loudly, “I have discussed this matter with the Y.P.F.C. members individually. They plan an entertainment of their own later on in the year and they are
most
anxious that this little affair should be arranged
entirely
by ourselves. Just five or six, they said, of the people who are really interested in the Circle. They mentioned you, of course, rector, and the squire, as patron, and you Eleanor, naturally, as president. They said they hoped Dinah would not feel that our humble efforts were beneath her dignity and that she would grace our little performance. And you, Henry, they particularly mentioned you.”
    “Thank you,” said Henry solemnly. Miss Campanula darted a suspicious glance at him and went on:
    “They seem to think they’d like to see me making an exhibition of myself with all the rest of you. Of course, I don’t pretend to histrionic talent — ”
    “
Of course
you must have a part, Idris,” said Miss Prentice. “We depend upon you.”
    “Thank you, Eleanor,” said Miss Campanula; and between the two ladies there flashed the signal of an alliance.
    “That makes five, doesn’t it?” asked Miss Prentice sweetly.
    “Five,” said Miss Campanula.
    “Six, with Dr. Templett,” said Henry.
    “We should be very glad to have Dr. Templett,” rejoined Miss Prentice, with so cunningly balanced an inflection that her rejection of Mrs. Ross was implicit in every syllable.
    “Well, a G.P.’s an awkward sort of fellow when it comes to rehearsals,” said Dr. Templett. “Never know when an urgent case may not crop up. Still, if you don’t mind risking it I’d like to take a part.”
    “We’ll certainly risk it,” said the rector. There was a murmur of assent followed by a deadly little silence. The rector drew in his breath, looked at his daughter who gave him a heartening nod, and said:
    “Now, before we go any further with the number of performers, I think we should decide on the form of the entertainment. If it is going to be a play, so much will depend upon the piece chosen. Has anybody any suggestion?”
    “I move,” said Miss Campanula, “that we do a play, and I suggest
Simple Susan
as a suitable piece.”
    “I should like to second that,” said Miss Prentice.
    “What sort of play is it?” asked Dr. Templett. “I haven’t heard of it. Is it new?”
    “It’s a contemporary of
East Lynne
and
The