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Updated: June 27, 2025
They stepped out upon the terrace. At sight of them the Roughsedges approached, while Mr. Fred Birch lagged behind to inspect the sundial. After a few words' conversation, Marsham turned resolutely away. "Miss Mallory wants to show me a new gardener." The old doctor smiled at his wife. Hugh Roughsedge watched the departing figures. Excellently matched, he must needs admit, in aspect and in height.
And those of us that might lead a decent life on this ill-arranged planet are all crippled and hamstrung by what we call unselfishness." The doctor vigorously replenished his pipe. "I vow I will go to Greece next spring, and leave Patricia behind!" Meanwhile, Mrs. Roughsedge walked to Beechcote in meditation. The facts she pondered were these, to put them as shortly as possible.
Hugh, meanwhile, was not yet gone, though he was within a fortnight of departure. He was coming to luncheon, with his parents, in order to support Diana. The family had seen Miss Merton some two or three times, and were all strongly of opinion that Diana very much wanted supporting. "Why should one be civil to one's cousin?" Dr. Roughsedge inquired of his wife.
Roughsedge, soothingly. The Vicar shook his head. "She is a young lady of strong will." And with a hasty nod of farewell to the Captain, whose hostility he divined, he walked away. "And what about obstinate and pig-headed parsons!" said Roughsedge, hotly, addressing his remark, however, safely to the Vicar's back, and to his mother. "Who makes him a judge of what we shall read!
"You are not coming?" said Hugh Roughsedge to Diana. At this question he saw a delicate flush, beyond her control, creep over her cheek and throat. "I I am expecting Mr. Marsham," she said. "Perhaps I ought to stay." Sir James Chide looked at his watch. "He should be here any minute. We will overtake you, Captain Roughsedge." Hugh went off beside Mrs. Colwood. Well, well, it was all plain enough!
Fanny had been boarding with friends in Bloomsbury, and was supposed to be returning to her family in Barbadoes in the autumn. The affair at the refreshment-room was to be heard of at Petty Sessions, and would, therefore, get into the local papers. Mrs. Roughsedge felt there was nothing for it; Diana must be told. But she hated her task.
Meanwhile, in Beechcote village, that night, a man slept lightly, thinking of Diana. Hugh Roughsedge, bronzed and full of honors, a man developed and matured, with the future in his hands, had returned that afternoon to his old home. "How is she?" Mrs. Colwood shook her head sadly. "Not well and not happy." The questioner was Hugh Roughsedge.
He was silent. But his watch was on the garden. And suddenly, on the long grass path, Diana appeared, side by side with the Vicar. Roughsedge sprang up. Muriel was arrested by Diana's face, and by something rigid in the carriage of the head. What had the Vicar been saying to her? she asked herself, angrily.
"I say don't your subscribers order the books they like?" asked Roughsedge, half wroth and half laughing, surveying the lady with his hand on his side. "There is a very clear understanding among us," said Miss Maria, sharply, "as to the character of the books to be ordered. No member of the Club has yet transgressed it."
I merely mention these things as explaining why the Vicar felt bound to make a stand. The Church feeling in this parish has been so strong it would, indeed, be a pity if anything occurred to weaken it." Mrs. Roughsedge gave a doubtful assent. As to the Church feeling, she was not so clear as Miss Bertram.
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