Page:The unhallowed harvest (1917).djvu/144

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A SIGNIFICANT DINNER PARTY
139

listen to reason, and that argument must give way to action. When he next spoke it was with determination.

"We shall not permit you to send this church to wreck, Mr. Farrar."

"God forbid that I should do so! It is my purpose to make Christ Church bigger, stronger, more spiritual than she has been before in all her history."

"You are a visionary."

"I am a prophet. You shall see."

"Very well."

Westgate rose and discarded the stump of his cigar. "I am not with you; therefore I shall be against you. Let me make that plain."

"I am sorry. You would have been a splendid comrade in the fight."

The rector was going on to say something more, but there came a knock at the door leading to the library, and he opened it. Mrs. Tracy stood there with an inquiring look on her face.

"May I ask," she said, "when this star-chamber session is to end?"

"It is at an end now, Mrs. Tracy," replied Westgate.

"Well, I should hope so," she responded. "Do you men know how long you have been closeted together? Exactly an hour and forty minutes. Ruth and Jane have played all the music they know; Barry's told all the funny stories he can remember; Mrs. Farrar's yawning, and Mrs. Bosworth says she's simply got to go home. So I think it's time for you to come out and apologize."

They did come out and apologize. Westgate took all the blame for their apparent rudeness on his shoulders; and Miss Chichester promised forgiveness if only they would disclose what they had been talking about. She surmised, but she never knew.

At any rate, Mrs. Tracy's purpose in giving the dinner had been accomplished; the apprehensive soul