Page:The unhallowed harvest (1917).djvu/106

Rh leading to the rectory she met Barry Malleson. He also was in full afternoon dress.

"Oh, Barry!" she exclaimed, "have you heard the news?"

"What news?" he inquired.

"About the awful time they had at the vestry meeting last night."

"Yes, I heard about it. I consider it highly improper to have such a rumpus as that in a vestry meeting. I consider it time for some one with brains and judgment to interfere. I thought I'd better see what I could do. I'm just on my way up now to call on Farrar and try to get the thing settled."

"How perfectly lovely of you! I was going up there too. I wanted to see Mr. Farrar about the Doncaster family. We'll go up together."

"No; I won't interfere with your call. My errand 'll keep. I'll go some other day."

"Indeed, you won't! You'll go now. I'll not be a bit in your way."

"No; I'll wait."

"Barry! Don't be foolish! Come along!"

"All right! I can tell him in a few minutes what I think of the situation. Then you can have him the rest of the afternoon."

"What do you think of the situation, Barry?"

"I think it's ridiculous!"

"Isn't it!"

"Yes; Farrar's dead wrong. I shall tell him so."

"How I shall enjoy hearing you tell him!"

They were passing up the street in the shade of aristocratic trees beginning now to take on the flush of autumn. She looked up coyly and trustingly into his face as she walked and talked, but he was too deeply absorbed in the importance of his errand to give much heed to her patent admiration.

It was not far to the rectory. The maid who answered the bell told them that Mr. Farrar was in and