"No, I didn't," said Annie, obliged by this expectance to say something.

"But to tell you the truth, Mrs. Munger, I don't see how I'm to be of any

use to you or to Mr. Brandreth."

"Oh, take a cab and go about, like Boots and Brewer, you know, for the

Veneerings." She said this as if she knew about the humour rather than felt

it. "We are placing all our hopes of bringing round the Old Hatborians in

you."

"I'm afraid you're mistaken about my influence," said Annie. "Mr. Brandreth

spoke of it, and I had an opportunity of trying it last night, and seeing

just what it amounted to."

"Yes?" Mrs. Munger prompted, with an increase of expectance in her large

clear eyes, and of impartiality in her whole face.

"Mr. Peck was here," said Annie reluctantly, "and I tried it on him."

"Yes?" repeated Mrs. Munger, as immutably as if she were sitting for her

photograph and keeping the expression.

Annie broke from her reluctance with a sort of violence which carried

her further than she would have gone otherwise. She ridiculed Mr. Peck's

appearance and manner, and laughed at his ideas to Mrs. Munger. She had not

a good conscience in it, but the perverse impulse persisted in her. There

seemed no other way in which she could assert herself against him.

Mrs. Munger listened judicially, but she seemed to take in only what Mr.

Peck had thought of the dance and supper; at the end she said, rather

vacantly, "What nonsense!"

"Yes; but I'm afraid he thinks it's wisdom, and for all practical purposes

it amounts to that. You see what my 'influence' has done at the outset,

Mrs. Munger. He'll never give way on such a point."

"Oh, very well, then," said Mrs. Munger, with the utmost lightness and

indifference, "we'll drop the idea of the invited supper and dance."

"Do you think that would be well?" asked Annie.

"Yes; why not? It's only an idea. I don't think you've made at all a bad

beginning. It was very well to try the idea on some one who would be frank

about it, and wouldn't go away and talk against it," said Mrs. Munger,

rising. "I want you to come with me, my dear."

"To see Mr. Peck? Excuse me. I don't think I could," said Annie.

"No; to see some of his parishioners," said Mrs. Munger. "His deacons, to

begin with, or his deacons' wives."




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