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From this region, after some difficulty and delay, the parlour-maid produced the W-Z volume of an Encyclopaedia and, in deference to the fact that the demand for it had come from Miss Van Vluyck, laid the ponderous tome before her.
Her tone added "though I might easily have it done for me by the footman." "I was about to say," Miss Van Vluyck resumed, "that it must always be a question whether a book can instruct unless it elevates." "Oh " murmured Mrs. Leveret, now feeling herself hopelessly astray. "I don't know," said Mrs.
Plinth hastily interposed: "I beg you won't read it aloud if there's anything offensive." Miss Van Vluyck, without answering, continued her silent scrutiny. "Well, what IS it?" exclaimed Laura Glyde excitedly. "DO tell us!" urged Mrs. Leveret, feeling that she would have something awful to tell her sister. Miss Van Vluyck pushed the volume aside and turned slowly toward the expectant group.
It may have made Osric Dane furious, but at least it made her civil." "I am glad we were able to show her," added Miss Van Vluyck, "that a broad and up-to-date culture is not confined to the great intellectual centres." This increased the satisfaction of the other members, and they began to forget their wrath against Osric Dane in the pleasure of having contributed to her defeat.
"Nor I," said Mrs. Ballinger. Laura Glyde bent toward them with widened eyes. "And yet it seems doesn't it? the part that is fullest of an esoteric fascination?" "I don't know on what you base that," said Miss Van Vluyck argumentatively.
Leveret were fluttered by the thought of exchanging ideas with the author of "The Wings of Death," no forebodings of the kind disturbed the conscious adequacy of Mrs. Plinth, Mrs. Ballinger and Miss Van Vluyck.
"Why," said that lady, glancing in turn at the other members, "as a community I hope it is not too much to say that we stand for culture." "For art " Miss Glyde eagerly interjected. "For art and literature," Mrs. Ballinger emended. "And for sociology, I trust," snapped Miss Van Vluyck. "We have a standard," said Mrs.
Laura Glyde started up. "A religion? I never " "Yes, you did," Miss Van Vluyck insisted; "you spoke of rites; and Mrs. Plinth said it was a custom." Miss Glyde was evidently making a desperate effort to reinforce her statement; but accuracy of detail was not her strongest point. At length she began in a deep murmur: "Surely they used to do something of the kind at the Eleusinian mysteries "
"I'm quite of your opinion," Miss Van Vluyck came briskly to her support; "on condition, that is, that all grossness of language is avoided." "Oh, I'm sure we shall understand without that," Mrs. Leveret tittered; and Laura Glyde added significantly: "I fancy we can read between the lines," while Mrs. Ballinger rose to assure herself that the doors were really closed. Mrs.
"Oh, that's not the kind of thing we want!" exclaimed Miss Van Vluyck. She cast a disparaging glance over Mrs. Ballinger's assortment of literature, and added impatiently: "Haven't you any useful books?" "Of course I have," replied Mrs. Ballinger indignantly; "but I keep them in my husband's dressing-room."
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