"Of course, I would have given them up. Only I just happened to say that
papa always read everything he could by those two men--and then"--she
flushed--"Well, I don't exactly remember what Mr. Lavery said. But I
know that when he'd said it I wouldn't have given up either of those
books for the world!"
"I hope, Miss Mallory, you won't think of giving them up," said Hugh,
with vigor. "It will be an excellent thing for Lavery."
Mrs. Roughsedge, as the habitual peacemaker of the village, said hastily
that Dr. Roughsedge should talk to the Vicar. Of course, he must not be
allowed to do anything so foolish as to withdraw from the Club, or the
Miss Bertrams either."
"Oh! my goodness," cried Diana, hiding her face--and then raising it,
crimson. "The Miss Bertrams, too! Why, it's only six weeks since I
first came to this place, and now I'm setting it by the ears!"
Her aspect of mingled mirth and dismay had in it something so childish
and disarming that Mrs. Roughsedge could only wish the Vicar had been
there to see. His heretical parishioner fell into meditation.
"What can I do? If I could only be sure that he would never say things
like that to me again--"
"But he will!" said Captain Roughsedge.
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