was done. She did not controvert the doctrines of Dunstone so entirely as to embrace the doctrines of emancipation, but she thought that free ventilation was due to every subject, most especially when the Member's wife was the leading lady in bringing about such discussion. The opposition made in the town to Mrs. Duncombe's sanitary plans, and the contempt with which they had been treated as ladies' fancies, had given a positive field of battle, with that admixture of right and wrong on either side which is essential to championship. And in truth Cecil was so much more under the influence of Camilla Tyrrell and Bessie Duncombe than under that of any other person, that she was ready to espouse any cause that they did.
How to arrange for the intended instruction was the difficulty, since Wil'sbro' was without a town-hall, and, moreover, the inhabitants were averse to all varieties of change, either as to the claims of women, the inequality of social laws, the improvement of education, or the comprehension of social science-the regular course which Mrs. Clio W. Tallboys was wont to lecture.
The matter could only be managed by arranging a series of soirees at different houses. Mrs. Duncombe's rooms were far too small; but if some person of more note-'some swell' as she said-would make the beginning, there would be no difficulty in bringing others to follow suit.
'You must do it, Lady Tyrrell,' said Mrs. Duncombe.
'I! If there's nobody else; but it would come much better from another quarter,' nodding at Cecil.
'Don't you wish you may get it?' muttered the slang-loving Bessie.
'That's one point in which we leave you far behind,' said Mrs. Tallboys. 'We issue our invitations quite independently of the other members of the household. Each has a separate visiting list.'
'There need be no difficulty,' said Cecil; 'all matters of visiting are in my hands. It is necessary in our position; and if Lady Tyrrell thinks it proper that I should give the first party, I will do so.'
'Bravo, what fun!' cried Mrs. Duncombe, clapping her hands. 'You won't get into a jolly row, though?' she added, anxiously.
'I am perfectly sure of my ground,' said Cecil, with the dignity of one to whom a 'row' was unheard of. 'It is the simple duty of a Member to come forward in promoting free discussion of opinions.'
'You are a public-spirited woman, Cecil,' said Lady Tyrrell. 'When you have made the first move, I'll follow. Then whom shall we ask next?'
'Mrs. Moy,' said Bessie. 'She is a nonentity herself, but if Gussie were to be strongly bitten she could do more than any one else, and make her father reform that nest of horrors in Water Lane!'
'I'm afraid the freedom side will bite her more than the sanitary side,' said Lady Tyrrell.
'She is capital fun, though, and a great ally of ours,' said Mrs. Duncombe; 'and the rooms at Proudfoot Lawn are worth anything!'
Other details were fixed, even to the day of Cecil's opening party, which must take place on the first practicable day; but there was none to be found till the Wednesday week, the day before Raymond would return home. Cecil did not recollect this till the day had been unanimously agreed on, and it was with a little alarm; but after what she had asserted about her freedom of action, she could not retract before the eyes of the American lady; and, as she said to herself, she could receive her own ladies' party, without interfering with any one else, in the library, so that no one had a right to object. However, she had a certain anticipation of opposition, which caused her to act before announcing her intention; and thus it was that Rosamond found her dropping a number of notes through the slit in the lid of the post-box. 'Another dinner?' was the question.
'No, this is a soiree in the library, entirely for ladies; Mrs. Tallboys is to explain her views in the evenings at the Principal houses in the neighbourhood. She will begin here on Wednesday week.'
'Why, that's before Raymond comes back!'
'This is entirely for women.'
'Women! women's rights! How have you got Mrs. Poynsett to consent?'
'I have carte blanche in these matters.'
'Do you mean that you have not consulted her? Does Raymond know? Oh! Yes, I see I have no right to ask; but, Cecil, for your own sake, I entreat you to consider what you are about, before running into such a frightful scrape!' and Rosamond impulsively caught the hand that was still putting in a letter; but Cecil stood still, not withdrawing or moving a muscle, perfectly impassive. Rosamond went on more eagerly, 'Oh yes, I know you don't like me-I'm only a poor battered soldier's daughter, quite an unworthy associate for a Charnock of the Charnocks; but I can't help begging you to consider the consequences of sending out invitations to hear this strange woman hold forth in Mrs. Poynsett's own house, in your husband's absence.'
'Thank you for your solicitude,' said Cecil, dropping in her envelope the instant the obstructive hand was removed, and going on her way with dignified self-possession; while Rosamond, in a tumult of indignation, which made her scarcely comprehensible, rushed up to her husband at his writing, and poured out her story.
Clio advocating female supremacy in Mrs. Poynsett's own house, without notice to her! Should she be warned in time to stop the letters? Should Raymond be written to? Rosamond was for both, Julius for neither. He said that either way would begin a system that could never be forgiven; and that they had better consider themselves as practically at the Rectory, and not interfere.
'How can you be so cold-blooded?' cried she.
'I do not want to do worse harm. My mother will learn what is to happen sooner or later; and then she can put a stop to it in any way she chooses.'
'I wish she would send in Mrs. Crabtree with her tawse!' said Rosamond. 'But is it right by Raymond to let his wife bring this Yankee muse to talk her nonsense in his very rooms?'
'You have argued with her?'
'Or with a block-a stock-a stone!' raved Rosamond.
'Then depend upon it, to inform against her would be far worse than letting any amount of absurdity be talked. I should like to know how you would get over being so served!'
'Don't make comparisons, sir! Poor things! they would not be the worse for a little of our foolishness!'
Things settled themselves according to Julius's prediction; for Mr. Bowater, coming up with his son Herbert to see his old friend, said, 'What grand doings are you having here? What is Raymond's wife up to? Ladies' conversazione-that's a new thing in these parts!'
'I gave such matters up to her,' said Mrs. Poynsett. 'Young people like a little freedom of action; and there are changes in the neighbourhood since I was laid up.' It was a temporizing speech, to avoid showing her total ignorance.
Mr. Bowater cleared his throat. 'Young folk may like freedom of action, but it don't always follow that it is good for them. I hope she won't get Raymond into a scrape, that's all-committing him and herself to a course of lectures by that Yankee woman on woman's rights.'
'It does not commit him; it is before he comes home, on Wednesday,' said Herbert.
'Never mind that; what a woman does her husband does. Look here, Mrs. Poynsett, I brought over Jenny's note in my pocket; see, here are two-one to accept, and one to refuse, just as you choose.'
'Oh! accept, by all means,' cried Mrs. Poynsett; 'don't leave the wrong one!'
Then she changed the conversation, so decidedly, that Mr. Bowater could not resume his warning; but after taking leave of her, he met Rosamond in the avenue, and could not help saying, 'Pray, was my old friend aware of Mrs. Raymond's doings?'
'Have you told her? Oh! I am so glad!'
'Then it is as you said, Herbert. Mrs. Raymond had left her in ignorance! The impudent baggage! That's what the world is coming to!'
'But what regular game Mrs. Poynsett was!' said Herbert. 'You could not make out in the least that she had been left in the lurch; and I'm sure she has a plan, by the way in which she desired Jenny and Edie to come.'
'Only make her understand that the Wil'sbro' folks are in a ticklish state,' said Mr. Bowater; 'they are sulking already, because they say the ladies have been stirring him up to put them to expense about the drains.'
'Wil'sbro' isn't sweet,' said Herbert.
'There's been nothing amiss in my time,' returned his father. 'Perfectly healthy in all reason! Ay! you may laugh, young folks, but I never heard of any receipt to hinder people from dying; and let well alone is a safe maxim.'
'If it be well,' said Rosamond. 'However, Raymond says whatever is done must be by general consent, and that small private attempts do more harm than good.'
