“Yes. Phil and his mother, Judge and Mrs. Bosworth, Jane and Barry, to meet Mr. and Mrs. Farrar. That’s enough. I think Mrs. Farrar would dread a larger company. But about Barry——”
“I’m through talking about Barry, mother.”
“Well, then, about Jane——”
“I’m through talking about Jane also.”
“Then write the invitations.”
Mr. and Mrs. Farrar came early on the evening of the dinner party. None of the other guests had yet arrived. Mrs. Tracy went up-stairs with the rector’s wife. Mr. Tracy was still engaged in the laborious task of getting into his dinner coat. So Ruth and the rector entered the library alone.
“I’ve been wanting to tell you,” said Ruth, “how thoroughly I approve of your recent stand for social equality in the Church. You’ve known my opinion, of course, but, in view of the adverse criticisms I’m afraid you’ve been receiving, I thought you might like to know it again.”
“I am glad to know it again,” responded the rector, “and you are very kind to give it to me. I value it because you know whereof you speak. Both theoretically and practically you know the needs of the poor, and the suspicions and aspirations of those in the humbler classes of society.”
“And I know, too, that we shall never get those people into the Church, nor keep them if we do get them, until we treat them as equals. I quite agree with you that the first thing to do is to make all pews free.”
“I am fully convinced of that, but I fear that I shall not be able to get my vestry to agree with me.”