Rachel had long ago come to the conclusion that Luke found it difficult to concentrate his mind on many things at the same time. When he was at Trowsby, his parish and Church took up all his thoughts to the exclusion of almost everything else. In fact, he suffered from a want of seeing things in their right proportion. And now that his mind was full of anxiety for his wife, his mother was somewhat put on one side. It distressed Rachel, for she knew the signs of the terrible pain caused by jealousy and felt sure she saw them written on her mother-in-law's face. They had in fact changed places since leaving Trowsby. Luke now consulted his wife about matters of interest instead of his mother; and though Rachel loved that it should be so, she felt Mrs. Greville's position to be very difficult. Some women would have been triumphant over the reversed positions but Rachel was above all such unworthy feelings; she could only see the pathetic side and it distressed her. Remembering too her own fight with the sin that brings such misery on those who give way to it, she longed to give Luke a hint as to how matters stood, and to ask him to be very careful; but she knew Luke would no more understand his mother's feelings than he would have understood those of his wife in the old days; and she felt it would not be fair to his mother to enlighten him. It would inevitably make her fall in his eyes; and up till now, he thought her perfection. So Rachel came to the conclusion that the only course to take was to behave to Mrs. Greville as if nothing was the matter, and to ignore the severity of her expression of face and voice when she spoke to her. But the anxiety and constant effort not to say anything that might offend or hurt was not good for her and was tiring. As the time drew near for the parish garden party, Mrs. Greville's thoughts became engaged with preparations for the event, and at times she seemed to forget that she was not pleased with her daughter-in-law. She had taken the whole affair off Rachel's hands and was thoroughly enjoying the responsibility of it. Luke was thankful that it meant no effort for his wife. "If it hadn't been for my mother being here," he said, "we could not have had it. The doctor said you were to have perfect rest." But Rachel was disappointed, though at the same time she was thankful that her mother-in-law had something to interest her and to fill up her time. That it was Mrs. Greville's party was quite evident when the day dawned. Rachel was amused when her mother-in-law told her that she had better stand at the gate and welcome the people, as she herself would be engaged seating them at the tables. Rachel had quite intended to be at the gate. "But," she said, "I think it would be better not to have tea the moment they arrive. They might walk about the garden and have games first." But Mrs. Greville had arranged in her own mind that tea was to be the first item of the programme and she did not wish it altered.