"Well, what's the reason?" Putney dropped into a chair and began to rock
nervously. "Don't be ashamed: we're _all_ selfish. Has Brandreth been
putting up any more jobs on you?"
"No, no! Only giving me a hint of his troubles and sorrows with those
wretched Social Union theatricals. Poor young fellow! I'm sorry for him. He
is really very sweet and unselfish. I like him."
"Yes, Brandreth is one of the most lady-like fellows I ever saw," said
Putney. "That Juliet business has pretty near been the death of him. I told
him to offer Miss Chapley some other part--Rosaline, the part of the young
lady who was dropped; but he couldn't seem to see it. Well, and how come on
the good works, Annie?"
"The good works! Ralph, tell me: _do_ people think me a charitable
person? Do they suppose I've done or can do any good whatever?" She looked
from Putney to his wife, and back again with comic entreaty.
"Why, aren't you a charitable person? Don't you do any good?" he asked.
"No!" she shouted. "Not the least in the world!"
"It is pretty rough," said Putney, taking out a cigar for a dry smoke; "and
nobody will believe me when I report what you say, Annie. Mrs. Munger is
telling round that she don't see how you can live through the summer at the
rate you're going. She's got it down pretty cold about your taking Brother
Peck's idea of the invited dance and supper, and joining hands with him to
save the vanity of the self-respecting poor. She says that your suppression
of that one unpopular feature has done more than anything else to promote
the success of the Social Union. You ought to be glad Brother Peck is
coming to the show."
"To the theatricals?"
Putney nodded his head. "That's what he says. I believe Brother Peck is
coming to see how the upper classes amuse themselves when they really try
to benefit the lower classes."
Annie would not laugh at his joke. "Ralph," she asked, "is it true that Mr.
Peck is so unpopular in his church? Is he really going to be turned
out--dismissed?"
"Oh, I don't know about that. But they'll bounce him if they can."
"And can nothing be done? Can't his friends unite?"
"Oh, they're united enough now; what they're afraid of is that they're not
numerous enough. Why don't you buy in, Annie, and help control the stock?
That old Unitarian concern of yours isn't ever going to get into running
order again, and if you owned a pew in Ellen's church you could have a vote
in church meeting, after a while, and you could lend Brother Peck your
moral support now."