“That was a great success,” said Mrs. Munger, as they drove away. Annie said nothing, and she added, “Don't you think so?”
“Well, I confess,” said Annie, “I don't see how, exactly. Do you mean with regard to Mr. Gerrish?”
“Oh no; I don't care anything about him,” said Mrs. Munger, touching her pony with the tip of her whip-lash. “He's an odious little creature, and I knew that he would go for the dance and supper because Mr. Peck was opposed to them. He's one of the anti-Peck party in his church, and that is the reason I spoke to him. But I meant the other gentlemen. You saw how they took it.”
“I saw that they both made fun of it,” said Annie.
“Yes; that's just the point. It's so fortunate they were frank about it. It throws a new light on it; and if that's the way nice people are going to look at it, why, we must give up the idea. I'm quite prepared to do so. But I want to see Mrs. Wilmington first.”
“Mrs. Munger,” said Annie uneasily, “I would rather not see Mrs. Wilmington with you on this subject; I should be of no use.”
“My dear, you would be of the greatest use,” persisted Munger, and she laid her arm across Annie's lap, as if to prevent her jumping out of the phaeton. “As Mrs. Wilmington's old friend, you will have the greatest influence with her.”
“But I don't know that I wish to influence her in favour of the supper and dance; I don't know that I believe in them,” said Annie, cowed and troubled by the affair.
“That doesn't make the slightest difference,” said Mrs. Munger impartially. “All you will have to do is to keep still. I will put the case to her.”
She checked the pony before the bar which the flagman at the railroad crossing had let down, while a long freight train clattered deafeningly by, and then drove bumping and jouncing across the tracks. “I suppose you remember what 'Over the Track' means in Hatboro'?”