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Updated: June 23, 2025
"I thought you might have gone for the sermon. The subject was one of your specialties, wasn't it?" The doctor twirled his hat. "Better tell him what the subject was," suggested Benis unkindly. "Didn't you listen?" Desire's inquiring eyebrows lifted. "That's one of the things I don't understand about people here. Church and church affairs seem to play such an important part in Bainbridge.
A school boy's proper name is no good to him. Proper names are simply not done. But the christening party found my combination rather a handful. No one could do anything with Benis and the obvious shortening of Hamilton was considered too Biblical. 'Ham', however, suggested 'Piggy'. This might have done had there not already existed a 'Piggy' with a prior right.
"Not so delightful, my dear, as educative. But as I was saying, Benis, it is all your fault that this misconception has got about. I blame you very much in the matter. It comes naturally from your writing so continually about Indians and foreigners and Primitives generally. People come to associate you with them. Still, I think it was extremely rude of Mrs. Stopford Brown to say it."
"If it could only be someone more subtle than John," thought Benis. And, "If only old Benis were a bit more stable," thought John. Both were insincere, since no possible combination of qualities would have satisfied either. Of this fatally misled quartette, Mary Davis was perhaps the one most open to reason.
Not until she had found certainty did she realize how she had clung to hope. She did not know that she was crying until a tear splashed hot upon her hand. She did not hear the door open as Benis reentered the room, but she sprang to her feet, alert and defensive, at the sound of his voice. "Crying?" said Benis. It was hardly a question. He had, in fact, seen the tear.
"Ma says 'dopting anyone's a terrible risk," said the prim one. "Like as not they'll never say thank yuh." ... "And that," said Desire later in the day as she related her experiences to the professor, "that was the idea with which I left them! I shan't have to teach again, shall I, Benis?" Her husband smiled. "No. I should think more would be a superfluity." "They'll say I'm a heathen.
Would an Indian, for instance, be considered a Primitive?" "Um some Indians might." "Oh," thoughtfully, "then I suppose that is what Mrs. Stopford Brown meant." Her delighted listeners exchanged an appreciative glance. "Very probably," said Benis, with tact, "were you discussing Primitives at the Club?" "No. Though it might be rather a good idea, don't you think?
"It wouldn't interest you," he said. "I hear Aunt coming at last." Miss Campion's voice had indeed preceded her. "Oh, there you are, Mary," she said with some acidity. "I told Desire you were sure to be down first." "I try to be prompt," said Mary meekly. "I have been keeping Benis company until you were ready."
There was something about her well, I admit I liked to look at her. And she seemed to love this place. Even that Yorick bird pleased her, a taste which I admit I could never understand. Now she looks around and sees nothing. The girl has some-thing on her mind, Benis. She's thinking." "With some people thought is not fatal." "I am serious, Benis." "So am I."
She has a particularly annoying habit of repeating one's words. "Benis has always had fixed ideas though when he was young," she added with satisfaction, "I knew how to unfix them. If this absurd rest cure can do anything to cure chronic stubbornness, I've nothing to say. Why, even his father was easier to manage." "Benis," I said, "considers himself very like his father."
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