"Heavens, will this quarrel ne'er 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 don't 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 that's not going to be for her benefit in some way.She's mighty particular in everything, but more particular in that than in anything else.""I'll admit that there is reason to suspect a strain of selfishness in Rachel's nature," said Anna Bayne; "but it's 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.
"That's an unworthy insinuation," said Elmira, getting very red.
"At least, no one can say I played any cards for that stake.""Wasn't 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:
"There's no doubt in my mind that the poor, dear girl really took very deeply to heart the stories that have been circulated about Harry Glen's 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 she'd had real spirit," said Mrs.Grimes, "she'd 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 she's a deep one.I'll venture anything she's got a well-laid scheme, that none of us dream of.""Mrs.Tufis,"--it was the calm, even tones of Rachel Bond's 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:
"Mrs.Tufis, I come to you, as president of this society, to apologize for my absence from so many of your meetings, and to excuse myself on the ground of indisposition." (Mrs.Grimes darted a significant look at Elmira.) "I also want to announce that, as I have determined to join the corps of nurses for the field hospitals, which Miss Dix, of New York, is organizing, and as I will start for the front soon, I shall have to ask you to excuse me from any farther attendance upon your meetings, and drop my name from your roll."She replied pleasantly to a flood of questions and expostulations, which the crowd that gathered around poured upon her, and turning, walked quietly away to her home.
