Tony Walker

She was a handsome and determined-looking woman, quite obviously wearing the trousers, and her voice was sharply authoritative.

"'What can I do, my dear?'

replied the Rector, with the plaintive testiness of the conscience-moved weakling.

"'You can and must do something.

"'You can listen to me for one thing.

"'I've been meaning to have this out with you for some time "'ever since I realized what was going on.

"'That sight of her convinces me it must be now at once.

"'If she dies without our having done a hand's turn to save her, "'I shall never know a minute's peace again, "'and I don't think you will either.

"'Come quickly, here she is going back.'

"'The rector reluctantly went to the window.'

What he saw brought a look of genuine distress to his kindly, diffident face.

Yes, he sighed, I can see what you mean only too well.

Now sit down, ordered his spouse.

I know we're in a difficult position.

Miss Pendleham puts two pounds in the plate every Sunday, which is an enormous help to us.

These are my servants' wages, she seems to say as she does it.

But she is a very evil old woman.

How evil, I don't think either of us fully realizes.

Yet she does come to church, protested the rector.

Yes, she comes to church, replied his wife sardonically.