Penny Plain eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 367 pages of information about Penny Plain.

Penny Plain eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 367 pages of information about Penny Plain.

“I know exactly.  What a splendid description!”

“Now,” continued Miss Watson, much elated by the praise, “Mrs. Morrison is very conspicuous looking.  She’s got yellow hair and a bright colour, and a kind of bold way of looking.”

“She’s a complex character,” sighed Mrs. Jowett; “she wears snakeskin shoes.  But you must be kind to her, Miss Watson.  I think she would appreciate kindness.”

“Oh, so we are kind to her.  The congregation subscribed and gave a grand piano for a wedding-present.  Wasn’t that good?  She is very musical, you know, and plays the violin beautifully.  That’ll be very useful at church meetings.”

“I can’t imagine,” said Miss Dawson, “why we should consider a minister’s wife and her talents as the property of the congregation.  A doctor’s wife isn’t at the beck and call of her husband’s patients, a lawyer’s wife isn’t briefed along with her husband.  It doesn’t seem to me fair.”

“How odd,” said Pamela; “only yesterday I was talking to Mrs. Macdonald—­Jean’s minister’s wife—­and I said just what you say, that it seems hard that the time of a minister’s wife should be at the mercy of everyone, and she said, ’My dear, it’s our privilege, and if I had my life to live again I would ask nothing better than to be a hard-working minister’s hard-working wife.’  I stand hat in hand before that couple.  When you think what they have given all these years to this little town—­what qualities of heart and head.  The tact of an ambassador (Mrs. Macdonald has that), the eloquence of a Wesley, a largesse of sympathy and help and encouragement, not to speak of more material things to everyone in need, and all at the rate of L250 per annum.  Prodigious!”

“Yes,” said Miss Dawson, “they have been a blessing to Priorsford for more than forty years.  Mr. Macdonald is a saint, but a saint is a great deal the better of a practical wife.  Mrs. Macdonald is an example of what can be accomplished by a woman both in a church and at home.  I sit rebuked before her.”

“Oh, my dear,” said Mrs. Jowett, “no one could possibly be more helpful than you and your sisters.  It’s I who am the drone....  Now I must go.”

The Miss Watsons outstayed the other guests, and Pamela, remembering Jean’s advice, produced a few stray photographs of relations which were regarded with much interest and some awe.  The photograph of her brother, Lord Bidborough, they could hardly lay down.  Finally, Pamela presented them with flowers and a basket of apples newly arrived from Bidborough Manor, and they returned to Balmoral walking on air.

“Such pleasant company and such a tea,” said Miss Watson.  “She had out all her best things.”

“And Mrs. Jowett and Miss Dawson were asked to meet us,” exulted Miss Teenie.

“And very affable they were,” added her sister.  But when the sisters had removed their best clothes and were seated in the dining-room with the cloth laid for supper, Miss Teenie said, “All the same, it’s fine to be back in our own house and not to have to heed about manners.”  She pulled a low chair close to the fire as she spoke and spread her skirt back over her knee and, thoroughly comfortable and at peace with the world, beamed on her sister, who replied: 

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Penny Plain from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.