"Yes; but I'm afraid he thinks it's wisdom, and for all practical purposes
it amounts to that. You see what my 'influence' has done at the outset,
Mrs. Munger. He'll never give way on such a point."

"Oh, very well, then," said Mrs. Munger, with the utmost lightness and
indifference, "we'll drop the idea of the invited supper and dance."

"Do you think that would be well?" asked Annie.

"Yes; why not? It's only an idea. I don't think you've made at all a bad
beginning. It was very well to try the idea on some one who would be frank
about it, and wouldn't go away and talk against it," said Mrs. Munger,
rising. "I want you to come with me, my dear."

"To see Mr. Peck? Excuse me. I don't think I could," said Annie.

"No; to see some of his parishioners," said Mrs. Munger. "His deacons, to
begin with, or his deacons' wives."

This seemed so much less than calling on Mr. Peck that Annie looked out at
Mrs. Munger's basket-phaeton at her gate, and knew that she would go with
very little more urgence.

"After all, you know, you're not one of his congregation; he may yield to
them," said Mrs. Munger. "We must _have_ him--if only because he's
hard to get. It'll give us an idea of what we've got to contend with."

It had a very practical sound; it was really like meeting the difficulties
on their own ground, and it overcame the question of taste which was
rising in Annie's mind. She demurred a little more upon the theory of her