"All right; I'm going, Ellen. Got to say good night Mrs. Munger, that's
all." He managed to get to her, with his wife on his arm and his boy at his
side. "Want to thank you for a pleasant evening, Mrs. Munger--want to thank
you--"
"And _I_ want to thank you _too_, Mrs. Munger," said Mrs. Putney,
with an intensity of bitterness no repetition of the words could give,
"It's been a pleasant evening for _me_!"
Putney wished to stop and explain, but his wife pulled him away.
Dr. Morrell and Annie followed to get them safely into the carriage; he
went with them, and when she came back Mrs. Munger was saying: "I will
leave it to Mr. Wilmington, or any one, if I'm to blame. It had quite gone
out of my head about Mr. Putney. There was plenty of coffee, besides, and
if everything that could harm particular persons had to be kept out of the
way, society couldn't go on. We ought to consider the greatest good of the
greatest number." She looked round from one to another for support. No one
said anything, and Mrs. Munger, trembling on the verge of a collapse, made
a direct appeal: "Don't you think so, Mr. Peck?"
The minister broke his silence with reluctance. "It's sometimes best to
have the effect of error unmistakable. Then we are sure it's error."
Mrs. Munger gave a sob of relief into her handkerchief. "Yes, that's just
what I say."
Lyra bent her face on her arm, and Jack Wilmington put his head out of the
window where he stood.
Mr. Peck remained staring at Mrs. Munger, as if doubtful what to do. Then
he said: "You seem not to have understood me, ma'am. I should be to blame
if I left you in doubt. You have been guilty of forgetting your brother's
weakness, and if the consequence has promptly followed in his shame, it is
for you to realise it. I wish you a good evening."
He went out with a dignity that thrilled Annie. Lyra leaned toward her and
said, choking with laughter, "He's left Idella asleep upstairs. We haven't
_any_ of us got _perfect_ memories, have we?"
"Run after him!" Annie said to Jack Wilmington, in undertone, "and get him
into my carriage. I'll get the little girl. Lyra, _don't_ speak of
it."
"Never!" said Mrs. Wilmington, with delight. "I'm solid for Mr. Peck every
time."