"I'm so sorry! Robert is so far ahead of the times. Did Mr. Westgate oppose him?"
"Yes; Mr. Westgate and Mr. Hughes, and Mr. Claybank"
"And Judge Bosworth?"
"Yes, Judge Bosworth, and—oh, all of the best men in the vestry. Isn't it too bad!"
"It's pitiful!" She sighed again, and her face grew a little paler and more anxious. "I hope there were no harsh words used, Miss Chichester. I couldn't stand it to have any one speak harshly to Mr. Farrar."
"Why, yes, I believe some very harsh words were used—not by your husband, my dear; he's a gentleman. But they—now really, I mustn't tell you this."
"But I want to know. No matter how dreadful it is."
"Well, they demanded Mr. Farrar's resignation as rector."
"Miss Chichester!"
"Yes, and then withdrew the demand. And then Mr. Emberly and Mr. Hazzard got very angry and said some dreadful things, and Oh, Mrs. Farrar, really I must not tell you any more."
"Go on, please; let me hear it all."
"Well, if I must tell it; these gentlemen and Mr. Hughes and Colonel Boston said shocking things to each other, and they were going to fight"
"To fight! in the vestry meeting!"
"Yes, actually to fight. And Mr. Westgate and Mr. Farrar stepped between them and prevented it, and they had to adjourn the meeting before they were through, in order to avoid more trouble."
"How dreadful!"
"Isn't it dreadful! But you mustn't take my word for it, Mrs. Farrar. I'm only telling you what I heard, and just as I heard it. It's so unfortunate that all the best men in the vestry should be so bitterly opposed to Mr. Farrar."
