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 Bonds and Harry Glens 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 dont 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. Grimess 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 times cruel inflexibility in scoring upon her face unconcealable tallies of every one of his yearly flights over her head, why shouldnt she enjoy these golden days? Youth is passing, to her and to all of us, like an arrow from the bow. Itd 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 widows 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. Grimess 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.
WellMrs. Grimess temper was rising so rapidly that she was losing her usual skill in this verbal fenceJason Grimes, no doubt, has his faults, as all men have; but he is certainly better than no husband at all.
Thats the way for you to think, said Elmira, composedly, disregarding the thrust at her own celibacy. Its very nice in you to take so cheerful a view of it. SOMEBODY had to marry him, doubtless, and its 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 neer 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 dont 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 thats not going to be for her benefit in some way. Shes mighty particular in everything, but more particular in that than in anything else.
Ill admit that there is reason to suspect a strain of selfishness in Rachels nature, said Anna Bayne; but its 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.
Thats an unworthy insinuation, said Elmira, getting very red. At least, no one can say I played any cards for that stake.
Wasnt 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:
Theres no doubt in my mind that the poor, dear girl really took very deeply to heart the stories that have been circulated about Harry Glens 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 shed had real spirit, said Mrs. Grimes, shed 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 shes a deep one. Ill venture anything shes got a well-laid scheme, that none of us dream of.
Mrs. Tufis,it was the calm, even tones of Rachel Bonds 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: