Chapter XXV: The Disturbing Element

"We must have a Baby Show before the summer is over," said Mrs. Greville, as she sat in the garden by Rachel's side darning stockings, "and next year a Flower Show. The village has been dreadfully neglected, evidently, by the last Rector."

"I don't think so," said Rachel. "He was a splendid visitor and was looked upon as a father by the people."

"Perhaps; but there is nothing social by which to draw the people together. Now a Women's Institute ought to be started."

"But you must remember there is not a single helper in the parish with the exception of a very nice farmer's daughter, who conducts the whole Sunday School. It would be impossible to start things here that need helpers."

But Mrs. Greville was not to be put off.

"I expect if helpers were really looked for they would be found. I'll look round the parish and see what I can do."

Rachel sighed.

"You won't make the people want things that they can't have, will you?" she said.

"Certainly not. But there is no need to say they can't have them. Anyhow I am here to help; and anything in the way of writing I am sure you could do. There are two workers at once."

"Oh, you must not think of me as a worker," said Rachel. "I can only just live." She had been more conscious of her weakness since her mother-in-law's advent than ever before.

"My dear, of course you cannot be a worker in the ordinary sense. But believe me you would feel all the better with something to interest you a little. It never does anyone any good to lie and think about themselves all day. I found that out when I was ill; and no sooner did I begin to think of my work than I felt better at once."

Rachel was silent. She wondered how much longer she could endure the intense activity of her mother-in-law. She thought she would have to take to her bed; but she knew the air was the only thing for her.

"Let me see," continued Mrs. Greville. "There's a Mrs. Simpkins at the bottom of the hill who has a fine boy, and next door is that poor thriftless woman whose baby is nothing but skin and bones. It will do the mothers a world of good having to weigh their babies; they'd be ashamed then of their little puny creatures. We must certainly have the Show before the summer is over. When shall it be?"

"Whenever you like," said Rachel wearily. Then she added, "Ask Luke."

"Oh it won't make any difference to Luke. It is a question for his mother and wife to decide. Shall we say at the end of August?"

"Luke has a clerical meeting here one day in August. You had better ask him."

"Will the clergy be here to tea?"

"Yes, and they come to lunch too."

"Come to lunch! How ridiculous! In these days to give lunch is quite unnecessary I am sure. Why it can't be done under—"

"Oh don't say that to Luke," interrupted Rachel. "It's such a delight to him to be able at last to offer hospitality to his brother clergy. He is quite looking forward to it."

"Well I call it very unnecessary. What are they going to have? I hope you are not preparing a spread. Because you have a rather better living than your last it does not mean that you must forget the necessity of being economical."

Rachel laughed hysterically. Here it was again! Eggs at 4d and margarine instead of butter!

"Don't let us talk of economy yet," she said. "Let us enjoy, anyhow for a time, being able to give something to one's neighbours."

"And pray who is going to do the cooking?"

"Emma. In her last place she had to cook for clerical lunches and knows just what is necessary. And," she added laughing, "I mean to give them a good lunch."

"What do you mean by a good lunch?"

Mrs. Greville sarcastically. "Do you intend to give them chickens? They are nine shillings each at Trowsby."

"No I don't mean to give chickens. They are probably tired of them in the country. But they shall have a good lunch, I am determined about that, for Luke's sake."

"My dear you are talking like a very silly woman;" said Mrs. Greville gravely.

"Am I? I am sorry, but for once in my life I mean to be silly. So you must forgive me," said Rachel.

Mrs. Greville said no more, but came to the conclusion that Rachel was a little light-headed, particularly as the conversation had set her laughing weakly. She supposed her presence was too exciting for her, so in a few minutes she picked up her work and made for the house, and before long Rachel caught sight of her making her way towards the gate with a note book and pencil in hand.

"She is going to look after the babies," sighed Rachel. "I hope she won't make those poor mothers too miserable by her comments." Then her mind reverted to one of Mrs. Greville's remarks.

"I wonder," she thought, "if she really imagines that I lie and think of myself all day! A woman with a husband and child, not to mention a mother-in-law and the housekeeping, has scarcely time to lead an idle life even in thought. Little Pat's clothes would be enough to keep me busy even if I had nothing else to do." And Rachel, who had laid down her work while talking to Mrs. Greville, took it up again. It was not long before she heard the gate open and her mother-in-law's somewhat heavy tread on the gravel.

"You are back sooner than I expected," said Rachel. Mrs. Greville looked tired and dispirited.

"Yes. I found my suggestion of a Baby Show rather upset the women. They seemed to take offence and were up in arms at once. That thriftless creature with the puny baby was almost rude to me, so I felt it would be as well to put the show off for a time."

Rachel sighed a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry that you have had your walk for nothing," she said, "but on the other hand it would be such a pity to create an ill feeling. Besides I would so much rather that our first gathering should be a tea in the garden. They would get to know us then and Luke could talk to them. I am bent, when I feel a little stronger, on inviting the whole parish."

"Another expense," said Mrs. Greville.

"I know. But it need not be an annual affair; just a kind of house warming."

"I wonder how much it would cost."

Rachel, who had been anticipating managing the tea herself directly she felt strong enough, had noticed the disappointed expression on Mrs. Greville's face when her plan of the baby show had failed; she evidently felt a little depressed. Should she put the whole management of the tea into her mother-in-law's hands? She knew Mrs. Greville would not be happy unless she had plenty to do, In fact she was so restless that she would make work if it were not provided for her. It would be a disappointment, but anything was better than to have an unhappy, restless, person in the house.

When Rachel asked Mrs. Greville if she would undertake the tea for her she cheered up at once. Taking out her pocket book she put down the probable number that they might expect, and began to discuss at once how much bread would be wanted, and what the whole affair would cost.

"I shall give them margarine," she said. "It would be quite absurd to go to the expense of butter." Rachel would have given them butter but she knew it would be useless to suggest this.

"And the tea might be sugared also altogether. It is much easier to have it all ready mixed with the milk."

"But some may not like sugar in their tea," objected Rachel.

"Well they mustn't mind it just for once," answered Mrs. Greville. "It is by far the best way when you have a large party. Then I almost think the cake and bread and butter had better be divided up before they come, and put on their plates. They will all fare alike then, and they'll know exactly how much they can have. If they don't want to eat it all they can take it away with them."

"But they are not by any means all children. I want them to be treated just as we should treat our own friends," Rachel expostulated. She began to wish she had never asked her mother-in-law to undertake the tea.

"But," said Mrs. Greville, "you see you have not had much experience in these matters and have no idea how much easier it is if you arrange everything beforehand. Method is everything on these occasions."

"But I want to make it really nice for the people," said Rachel eagerly. "It's better not to have the tea at all than in any way to hurt their feelings. I don't think for instance the men would at all like the plan of the food being piled on to a plate. Besides I want them to have sandwiches, and they would not be nice all mixed up with cake. I do hope you don't mind," she added, seeing that Mrs. Greville, who was considered such a first-rate caterer in Trowsby, was a little flushed at the thought that her suggestions were not liked. "I fancy that people in a country village would not be used to that kind of thing; besides there will not be very many of them. I do want them to have a dainty tea."

"Dainty? How do you mean?" said Mrs. Greville. She was evidently put out.

"I mean the same kind of tea that we would give to our own personal friends. Of course, rather thicker sandwiches as they would not appreciate the thin ones, but I am thinking more of the way it is all arranged."

"Well," said Mrs. Greville shortly, "if you will tell me exactly how you wish things to be done I will follow your directions."

Rachel wished that the subject of the tea had never been mentioned. The slight discussion had tired and rather worried her.

"Shall we talk about it another day?" she said, "there is plenty of time, and," she added, "of course you may be right. I have had no experience in such things and you have had so much."

Mrs. Greville was slightly mollified. She was not used to having her plans criticised. She preferred criticising the plans of others.

"Well my dear," she said, "I don't think you need worry about it. I promise you that your guests will have enough to eat; and after all that is the main thing."

Rachel did not think so. She thought that the manner in which the food was presented to them was as important as the food itself; but she did not say so.

"You can leave it all in my hands perfectly happily," added Mrs. Greville. "I will take the whole responsibility of it so don't worry yourself. Why, you look quite flushed even at the thought of it. There is really no need to be anxious," and Mrs. Greville moved towards the house notebook and pencil in hand.

Rachel sighed.