Chapter VIII: The Bishop Comes to Lunch

The opinion of his mother weighed with Luke more than that of his Bishop.

After the sudden suspicion that he had been unconsciously giving way to selfishness in not encouraging Rachel to work, he made up his mind that he must talk the matter over.

"My dear boy," said Mrs. Greville, "Rachel is no more fit to work in a parish than a child of five years old, and particularly in this parish. She has been buried in the country all her life and is absolutely incapable of doing any good till she has had anyhow a little experience."

"But I don't see how she can gain experience without working," said Luke.

"Well if you are so bent on it let her come with me to the mothers' meeting and watch how things are done. In fact she might undertake the reading, that is to say if she reads well."

"I have never heard her read, but no doubt she does. She does everything well," he added laughing.

"In fact she is perfect in your eyes," answered his mother amused at her son's blindness. "Well, let her come to the mothers' meeting to-morrow. She can't anyhow do any harm."

"Harm! No indeed. The mere look of her must do good."

"She is certainly very pretty," was the answer.

And Luke left her in good spirits, quite unconscious that his mother did not agree with his views of his wife, and that when she made the statement that anyhow Rachel could do no harm she did not intend it for a joke.

He was however disappointed that Rachel did not seem to take kindly to the idea of going to the mothers' meeting. To his surprise he had actually seen her face fall at the suggestion.

"Don't go dear if you would rather not," he said quickly, "but I fancied you might be glad of the experience. You are always telling me you want to work in the parish."

"I want to help you," she said, "but I don't see that sitting and watching your mother would be exactly a help either to you or to me." Then suddenly remembering her talk with the Bishop, she added, "But of course it is very kind of your mother to propose it. Perhaps I had better go. I should not like to appear ungrateful to her."

And Luke left her, thinking to himself, "After all I don't believe she wants to do that kind of work. Anyhow, she does not seem very keen about it; we may have been right in not encouraging it before."

Rachel, as she took her place at the table at the mothers' meeting, and opened the book she was given to read, felt nervous. She was quite sure that the mothers were full of curiosity to see how she would conduct herself at this first appearance at their meeting, and she was still more convinced that in her mother-in-law she had a severe critic. She was so nervous that she found herself even wondering how to pronounce some of the words. The book was about Missionary work in India and in places of which she had not heard before. Her mistakes were never passed over but were corrected at once by Mrs. Greville. She felt like a child at school and decided that this was the last time she would ever come to the mothers' meeting so long as Mrs. Greville was present.

But she was determined not to let Luke know how her pride had suffered that afternoon. She laughingly told him that she did not read well enough to be of any good; the words were too long for her to master, and too difficult. Her education, had evidently been neglected and she believed that every one of the women present could have read better than she could. She was so merry about it that Luke took it all as a joke and told her he would have to give her reading lessons.

But when the next week came she thought of the "stepping stones" of which the Bishop had talked, and felt that the remembrance of his words might help her to grow into a noble strong woman worthy of Luke, if she mastered her pride. And after the effort was made she was glad that she had gone. Her mother-in-law was evidently pleased, and thanked her for her help, and Rachel felt inclined to sing. She noticed too that when Mrs. Greville smiled the expression of her face changed, she looked kind and motherly. Rachel felt happier than she had done for some time.

The following week the Confirmation took place. The Bishop was coming to lunch after the Confirmation. Rachel was overjoyed at the prospect.

She was busy the day before making every corner of the house look as pretty as possible, and so imbued Polly with her excitement that she forgot her manners and went singing about the rooms. Rachel was too happy to reprove her. In fact she was quite glad to have someone who seemed almost as excited as herself.

"Polly," she said, "the Bishop must have the best of everything, so our cooking won't do for him. I'm going round to Evesham's to order a veal and ham pie and other things; so if they arrive you will understand that they are all right."

"I shall give him a lunch regardless of expense," she thought, smiling as the remembrance of Mrs. Greville's injunctions to economise crossed her mind. "For once I shall not count the pennies. He shall have a lunch like he used to have at home."

On the counter in the window of the confectioners she saw the exact thing. A small veal and ham pie, the crust of which was baked to a golden brown and the edges of which were frilled. It looked dainty and good. So Rachel made up her mind she would order one to be made exactly like it, and with it were to be sent some rissoles and a jelly.

She thought that possibly she and Polly between them could provide the puddings.

She went home quite satisfied with her purchases and determined, should Mrs. Greville hear of her extravagance, to brave it out. Besides, her mother-in-law was not coming to lunch so there was no need to tremble at the consequences of her morning's shopping. Luke would be quite oblivious as to whether they had boiled mutton or a dainty veal and ham pie. He never made any remark about his food; nor indeed, was he apparently conscious when his wife provided him with something specially nice for a treat.

It was at the early dinner that the bomb fell. "I have asked my mother to lunch to-morrow," said Luke.

"Oh Luke!" For the moment Rachel was off her guard and did not restrain the bitter disappointment that his news gave her. Then seeing a surprised look on her husband's face, she added quickly, "It is such a small room for four big people."

Luke laughed.

"Four big people! I don't think any of us answer to that description. Certainly you don't. I wish you did."

Rachel was too disappointed to be able to laugh.

"I had so hoped that you and I would have him to ourselves," she murmured.

"But it was only natural that we should ask my mother," said Luke. "And you need not worry about the food. She will send round something suitable."

"There will be plenty," said Rachel, a little stiffly.

Luke glanced across the table at his wife. He had never heard her speak in that tone of voice before. What could possibly have upset her, he wondered.

"He was father's greatest friend," continued Rachel, "and I had such a lot to talk to him about. It will just make all the difference having a third person."

"Yes, I can understand that, if it were a stranger, but after all it is only my mother. She need make no difference."

He was just a little surprised at his wife, and could not understand why she should make a trouble of it.

Rachel did not speak. Her heart was hot within her. How blind Luke was! Were all men like him? Surely he must have noticed how impossible it was for her to be her best in his mother's presence, being conscious, as she was, of her critical spirit.

Then she glanced across at her husband. He was looking perplexed and a little worried. And had she not registered a vow that he should never be worried with her smallnesses?

"O well, it does not really matter," she said with a faint laugh. "I am apt to make mountains of molehills I expect. Don't look so grave Luke. Of course you were quite right to ask your mother. She would no doubt have been pained if you had not done so, and it will be all right. As for food there will be plenty. I have been quite reckless on the Bishop's behalf. But you must not blame me for my extravagance."

"He won't expect a spread," said Luke.

"I know. And probably would be quite happy with only bread and cheese. But I love to give him of the best." Her laugh made her husband forget that his news had worried her, and the faint surprise he had experienced disappeared.

In the evening as Luke was out Rachel told Polly to bring in all the silver and she would give it an extra rub.

"Everything must shine as brightly as possible to-morrow Polly," she said.

At nine o'clock there was a ring at the bell, and a man handed in a large basket which Polly brought excitedly into the drawing-room.

"It's from Mrs. Greville, Ma'am," she said. Remembering that Luke had said that his mother was sending in something towards the lunch, Rachel had no doubt that the basket contained her gift.

She lifted the cloth that covered the contents of the basket, and groaned.

It was a pie! but not a dainty pie such as she had ordered. It was large and ungarnished, and might have been intended for a school treat rather than for a dainty luncheon table.

Polly stood looking at her mistress's perturbation with surprise; in her eyes the pie was lovely, and yet as her mistress was not pleased there must be something wrong about it.

"Ain't it good, Ma'am?" she asked anxiously.

"Oh yes, it's good, but oh so much too large and clumsy for our table. Besides I've ordered one, and it is to come early to-morrow morning. You'll see the difference when it comes Polly. I can't think what I am to do. I'm afraid I shall have to go round to Evesham's, late though it is, and counter order mine." Then a sudden determination made her add: "No, I won't, I'll keep to my original plan. This pie will do very nicely for another day. It is of course very kind of Mrs. Greville to send it," she added for Polly's edification.

When Luke came home she said nothing to him about what had happened, and he did not notice that she was not quite in such gay spirits as usual. Mrs. Greville arrived early in the morning next day.

"I thought you might need my help," she said to Rachel who tried to smile a welcome. "Is the silver brightened? And have you remembered to get out the best cloth? I provided one or two extra good ones for such occasions." She was full of excitement and anxious to help.

"Now would you like me to lay the table for you?" she said. "I see you have some flowers. That's right, I wondered if you would think of them."

"Thank you," said Rachel. "I can quite do everything myself. Yes, I know the Bishop is particularly fond of flowers and notices them more than anything else."

"Well, then you can arrange them while I lay the table," said Mrs. Greville drawing off her gloves. "I know where everything is to be found, and you need not pay any attention to me, my dear."

Mrs. Greville in the kindness of her heart was perfectly unconscious that her services were neither required nor wished for, and busied herself about the house. When Rachel, who always felt a puppet in her hands, mildly suggested that it might be better to let Polly arrange the table, as it would disappoint her not to do so, Mrs. Greville remarked:

"The great thing is that it should be laid correctly and Polly will have to get over her disappointment. Perhaps next time she will be able to do it. But this first time it is as well that some one who really knows should undertake it."

Rachel supposed that Mrs. Greville had never entertained a Bishop before, as she was in such a state of excitement over it, and evidently was nervous lest her daughter-in-law should disgrace her and her son. Rachel understood now how her husband could scarcely have helped inviting her to lunch under the circumstances. It would, without doubt, have pained her and disappointed her terribly to have been left out.

But to Rachel it was almost more than she could bear. She had looked forward to a quiet happy time with her father's best friend. To make such a fuss over him was perfectly unnecessary. She wanted to show him her little house, and to assure him that she was trying to follow out his fatherly advice. Now she felt that all was altered.

She saw that even Polly felt the hurrying and exciting influence in the house. The girl was looking worried and disappointed as Mrs. Greville called her hither and thither telling her to do this or that, and not leaving her a moment's peace. Her face was crimson and its expression one full of anxiety. She was no longer enjoying running about at her mistress's behest, and entering into all the pleasure shown by her at the coming of her father's best friend, (for Rachel had informed Polly of many things about her home life that she knew would interest her faithful and devoted little maid), but she was straining every nerve that things should be properly done for the arrival of a very grand gentleman who would notice every little mistake she made.

Besides, what worried the girl was the fact that her own dear Mistress seemed to have lost her good spirits since the early morning. The sun had gone out of her face; and disappointment and chagrin had taken its place.

Mrs. Greville had a very kind heart and if she had had the faintest idea of the disappointment she was giving to her daughter-in-law, she would have put on her gloves and disappeared at once. But she was not sensitive to her environment. Though she noticed that Rachel was graver than usual, she supposed the gravity was caused by anxiety that all should go well, and congratulated herself that she had come in to help so early in the morning, as her daughter-in-law seemed rather helpless and worried.

The more Mrs. Greville bustled about, the more lifeless Rachel became. All her energy had evaporated. She felt there was nothing for her to do as all was being done by her competent mother-in-law.

Even the arranging of the flowers was not left entirely to her. Having placed them gracefully with their long stalks in the flower vase, she put them in the centre of the luncheon table and was admiring them, when Mrs. Greville came into the room, her hands laden with dishes. Putting them on the sideboard she turned and looked critically at Rachel's flowers; then quick as thought lifted them out of the water and breaking their stalks put them again into the vase on the table, pressing them down so that the blossoms might all be even.

"There! they look better so and more tidy," she said, whilst Rachel stood by too astonished and taken by surprise even to expostulate.

But no sooner had Mrs. Greville left the house having done everything to her satisfaction, than Rachel slipped on her hat and ran round to the florist. Even if her mother-in-law had her way in everything else she was determined that her flowers should be an exception. The Bishop should anyhow see something to remind him of her old home, and the flowers were those he particularly loved. They were a fabulous price, but Rachel was reckless.

Happily the pie did not arrive from Evesham's till her mother-in-law had disappeared. Rachel found Polly regretfully contemplating it as it lay on the kitchen table.

"It's such a beauty!" she said to Rachel as she came in. "It's ever so much nicer than the one Mrs. Greville brought. It has such a pretty edge, and is varnished like, and there's a piece of parsley sticking out of the top. The other looks ever so plain by its side."

"Go and fetch the other back from the table Polly," said Rachel. "We'll put this one in its place."

Polly wondered how her mistress dared to do such a thing, and fervently hoped that Mrs. Greville would not scold her too much, but she fetched it gladly with an inward thrill of excitement.

Rachel went to the Confirmation Service in no devout state of mind. She felt out of touch with all good things. She knew she was indulging in wrong and unworthy feelings towards her mother in-law, as she was not blind to the fact that all she did was done in pure kindness, and because she had a false preconceived idea of her daughter-in-law's incapability. It was a case of misunderstanding. But what had happened this morning had made her feel all on edge. However, the sight of the Bishop, the sound of his voice, and still more the Charge he gave to the Confirmation candidates, filled her with a feeling of shame. How badly she was keeping the resolutions she had made at her own Confirmation. How half-heartedly she was fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil; what an unsatisfactory soldier of the King, under whose banner she had promised to fight unto her life's end.

She felt so ashamed of herself and so full of repentance, that she hurried home as fast as she could after the service and told Polly to put Mrs. Greville's pie on the table again. It was more necessary for her to be good and for her mother-in-law to be saved pain, than for the Bishop to partake of a pie with a frilled edge and, as Polly had expressed if, "all varnished like."

Then with an easier mind she was able to welcome her friend and even to smile at Luke's mother. It must be confessed however, that the smile was difficult to maintain, as she could scarcely get in a word edgeways with the Bishop. Her mother-in-law entirely engrossed his attention. Even Luke had to sit and listen, which made Rachel every now and then feel furious.

The Bishop, who was a much more sensitive man than Luke, saw at once that Rachel was feeling tried, and did what he could to turn the conversation in a direction that Mrs. Greville could not participate in for a short time, but before a few words had been exchanged with. Rachel or Luke, Mrs. Greville chimed in and again monopolised his attention. She felt that Luke and Rachel were silent and so did what she could to help to make talk, quite oblivious of the fact that she herself was the cause of their silence. Luke indeed did not notice that Rachel was not talking, or that he himself had very little opportunity of doing so, for he was naturally a silent man, having contracted the habit from having so talkative a mother.

Happily after lunch, Mrs. Greville had to go to some parish engagement so that Rachel and Luke had their chance of a talk; and finally Luke was called off to see someone and Rachel had the Bishop to herself.

The talk did her good, specially as she made him laugh over the matter of the two pies.

"Now that lunch is over," she said laughingly, "I am thankful that I changed them. I believe it would have given my mother-in-law a terrible shock if she had found out that I neither wanted nor liked her pie. And perhaps it would have ended in an estrangement between me and Luke as he would have probably heard of it, and I am quite sure he would never have understood. And fancy! All because of a pie! How silly and small I am."