t the Miss Minetts'
tea-table--hastened to put a gilded dome to her own indiscretion and
offence. For nothing would do but Damaris must accompany her on this
choir treat! She declared herself really compelled to press the point. It
offered such an excellent opportunity of acquiring archaeological
knowledge--had not the Dean most kindly promised to conduct the party
round the Cathedral himself and deliver a short lecture _en route_?--and
of friendly social intercourse, both of which would be very advantageous
to Damaris. As she was without any engagement for the day clearly neither
should be missed. Of course, everyone understood how unsuitable it would
be to ask Sir Charles to patronize parish excursions and events.--Here
Miss Bilson became lyrical, speaking with gasping breath and glowing
face, of "a call to exalted spheres of action, of great Proconsuls,
Empire Builders, Pillars of the State."--Naturally you hesitated to
intrude on the time and attention of such a distinguished person--that in
point of fact was her main reason for disposing of the matter of the
carriage horses herself. How could she trouble Sir Charles with such a
homely detail?--But Damaris' case, needless to remark, was very
different. At her age it was invidious to be too exclusive. Miss Felicia
Verity felt--so she, Theresa, was certain--that it was a pity Damaris did
not make more friends in the village now she was out of the schoolroom.
May and Doris Horniblow were sweet girls and highly educated. They, of
course, were going. And Captain Taylor, she understood would bring his
daughter, Louisa--who was home for a few days before the opening of term
at the Tillingworth High School where she was second mistress.

"It is always well to realize the attainments of young people of your own
age, even if they are not in quite the same social grade as yourself.
Your going would give pleasure too. It will be taken as a compliment to
the vicar and the Church--may really, in a sense, be called patriotic
since an acknowledgment of the duty we owe, individually, to the local
community of which we form part. And then," she added, naively giving
herself away at the last, "of course, if you go over to the station in
the brake Patch cannot make any difficulties about driving it."

Here Theresa stayed the torrent of her eloquence and looked up, to find
Damaris' eyes fixed upon her in incredulous wonder.

"Have you nothing to say, dear, in answer to my proposition?"