As the Rector came out he was seized upon at once by the
elder lady.
"Mr. Charnock! I must introduce myself; I knew your dear mother so
well when we were both girls. I am so delighted to find such a
church--quite an oasis; and I want to ascertain the best hour for
calling on her. Quite an invalid--I was so shocked to hear it.
Will the afternoon suit her? I am only here for three days to
deposit these two girls, while I take the other on a round of
visits. Three daughters are too great an affliction for one's
friends, and Bee and Conny are so delighted to be near their brother
and with dear Lena Vivian, that I am very glad above all, since I
find there are real church privileges--so different from the Vicar
of Wil'sbro'. Poor man; he is a great trial."
All this was said between the church and the lych-gate, and almost
took Julius's breath away; but Mrs. Poynsett was prepared to welcome
her old friend with some warmth and more curiosity.
Lady Susan Strangeways was a high-bred woman, but even high breeding
could not prevent her from being overwhelming, especially as there
was a great deal more of her than there had been at the last meeting
of the friends, so that she was suggestive of Hawthorne's inquiry,
whether a man is bound to so many more pounds of flesh than he
originally wedded.
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