More Pages from a Journal | Page 3

geography, even those which are familiar to common seamen
in the Navy. She probably could not tell us the situation of the Straits of
Panama.'
Mrs. Poulter had been reading something in the newspaper the day
before about the Panama Canal.
Miss E. 'Straits of Panama!' but she checked herself when she saw that
not a muscle moved on anybody's face. 'Now, my dear Mrs. Poulter, I
assure you I have friends who dine in the best society, and I'll be bound

they never heard of the Straits of Panama.'
Mrs. P. 'The society in which I was accustomed to mix, Miss Everard,
would have excluded a person who was so grossly ignorant.'
Miss T. 'The possession of scientific truth, in addition to conferring
social advantages, adds so much to our happiness.'
Miss E. 'This also I am inclined to dispute. Do you really feel happier,
Mrs. Poulter, because you can tell us what continents are divided by the
Straits of Panama?'
Mrs. M. 'I'll lay a wager Miss Toller knows as much as we do, but the
things she knows aren't the things we know.'
Mr. G. 'We are digressing, I am afraid. I suggest we should have a
ballot. I will write "Yes" on five little pieces of paper, and "No" on five,
and after distribution we will fold them up, and each of us shall drop
one in the vase on the mantel-shelf.'
This was done, and there were three for the invitation and two against
it.
Mrs. Poulter and Mr. Goacher were left alone after the table was
cleared.
'Permit me to say, dear madam, that I entirely agreed with you.'
'You must have voted with Mrs. Mudge.'
'I did, but not from any sympathy with her views. I strive to keep the
peace. In an establishment like this concord is necessary.'
Mr. Goacher, when he dropped his paper in the vase, had not forgotten
that Mrs. Mudge had offered to provide the wine for the dinner. If she
had been defeated the offer might have been withdrawn.
'I have fancied before now that I have seen in you a decided preference
for Mrs. Mudge.'

This was true. He had 'tried it on with her,' to use her own words, but
she was impregnable. 'It was no good with me,' she said to Miss
Everard; 'I saw what he was after.'
'My dear Mrs. Poulter, your supposition is preposterous--forgive me-
-you do not suppose that I am unable to recognise superiority in birth,
in manners, and in intellect. It was better, on this particular occasion, to
conciliate Mrs. Mudge. She is not worthy of serious opposition. Miss
Toller will not sit near you.'
Mrs. Poulter was pacified.
'I am glad to hear this explanation. I had hoped that one might be
forthcoming.'
'I am truly thankful I am worthy of hope, TRULY thankful.'
Mrs. Poulter dropped Palmer's Ecclesiastical History, which she had
begun to read every Sunday afternoon for three months. Mr. Goacher
picked it up, and was about to take Mrs. Poulter's hand, but Miss
Taggart entered and the conversation closed just when it was becoming
interesting.
In a day or two Mrs. Poulter informed Miss Toller that the ladies and
Mr. Goacher had been pleased to express a wish that she should dine
with them on Christmas Day. She consented with becoming humility,
as even Mrs. Poulter confessed, but with many secret misgivings. She
desired to strengthen herself with her lodgers on whom her living
depended, but Helen was more than a servant. She was her friend, and
she could not bear the thought of leaving her in the kitchen. Helen, too,
was passionate and jealous. Miss Toller therefore ventured to ask Mrs.
Poulter whether, as it was Christmas, Helen also might be invited. Mrs.
Poulter signified to Miss Toller her extreme surprise at the suggestion.
'The line, Miss Toller, must be drawn somewhere. Helen will have the
gratuity usual at this season--she is a well-regulated person and will see
the impropriety of intrusion into a sphere for which she is unfit.'

Miss Toller withdrew. She dared not venture to explain or apologise to
Helen, although delay would make matters worse. She went into North
Street and spent ten shillings which she could ill afford in buying a
locket for her.
Christmas Eve was black and bitter. After the lodgers had gone to bed,
Miss Toller and Helen sat by the kitchen fire.
'Oh, Miss, I wish we were at Barton Sluice.'
'What makes you wish it, now?'
'I hate this place and everybody in it, excepting you. I suppose it's
Christmas makes me think of the old farm.'
'I remember you said once that you thought you would like a town.'
'Ah, I said so then. I should love to see them meadows again. The snow