But, to the surprise of Miss Euphemia, Miss Fairlow refused.
Miss Euphemia pitied her as she would have pitied anyone who had refused the golden chance of belonging to the Society for the Encouragement of Higher Thought under her—Miss Euphemia Barney’s—presidency, but, as she said to the Society, “her influence would not have tended to the unworldliness and purity that distinguishes us from so many other societies and bodies—it is all for the best.”
To her most intimate friends she said that Miss Fairlow had refused the offer of membership in order to mask her complete ignorance of Higher Thought. “Ignorant, my dear,” she said. “Ignorant—like all these popular writers.”
So the Society for the Encouragement of Higher Thought pursued its pure and unworldly path, and Miss Fairlow only laughed at it from a distance.
*****
Chased ignominiously from Miss Euphemia’s garden, William went along to Miss Fairlow’s. He could see her over the hedge mowing the lawn.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hallo, William,” she replied.
“Got any insects there?” said William.
“Heaps. Come in and see.”