Pennington.
"You know how we all hoped that when the dear professor married he
would become more orthodox. Science is so unsettling. And married
men so often do. But--" she sighed.
"Surely not a free thinker?" ventured one in a subdued whisper.
"Or a Christian Scientist?" with equal horror.
Mrs. Pennington intimated that she had not yet sufficient data to
decide. "But," she added, solemnly, "she is not a. Presbyterian."
"She goes to church."
"Yes. She was quite frank about that. She did not scruple to say
that she goes to please Miss Campion and because 'it is all so new.'
"
"New?"
"Exactly what I said to her. I said, 'New?' My dear, what you do
mean--new?' And she tipped her eyebrows in that oriental way she has
and said, 'Why, just new. I have never been to church, you know!'"
"Oh, impossible--in this country!"
"Yes, imagine it! Perhaps she saw my disapproval for she added, 'We
had a prayer-book in the house, though.' As if it were quite the
same thing."
One of the more optimistic members of the chorus thought that this
might show some connection with the Church of England. But Mrs.
Pennington shook her head.
"Hardly, I think. Her language was not such as to encourage such a
hope. The very next thing she said to me was, 'Don't you think the
prayer-book is lovely?'"
"Oh!--not really?"
"I admit I was shocked. I am not," said Mrs. Pennington, "a Church
of England woman. But I am broad-minded, I hope.
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