Mrs Gray and Miss Reed looked at Mrs Griffith sternly and reproachfully; they felt themselves like God Almighty judging a miserable sinner. Mrs Griffith was extremely angry; she felt that she was being blamed most unjustly, and, moreover, she was not used to being blamed.
'I'm sure you're very kind, Mrs Gray and Miss Reed, but I must take the liberty of saying that I know best what my daughter was.'
'Mrs Griffith, all I say is this—you are not a good mother.'
'Excuse me, madam.' ... said Mrs Griffith, having grown red with anger; but Mrs Gray interrupted.
'I am truly sorry to have to say it to one of my parishioners, but you are not a good Christian. And we all know that your husband's business isn't going at all well, and I think it's a judgment of Providence.'
'Very well, ma'am,' said Mrs Griffith, getting up. 'You're at liberty to think what you please, but I shall not come to church again. Mr Friend, the Baptist minister, has asked me to go to his chapel, and I'm sure he won't treat me like that.'
'I'm sure we don't want you to come to church in that spirit, Mrs Griffith. That's not the spirit with which you can please God, Mrs Griffith. I can quite imagine now why dear Daisy ran away. You're no Christian.'
'I'm sure I don't care what you think, Mrs Gray, but I'm as good as you are.'
'Will you open the door for me, Mrs Griffith?' said Mrs Gray, with outraged dignity.
'Oh, you can open it yourself, Mrs Gray!' replied Mrs Griffith.