"It may save them for two or three days, possibly; but it really leads them to go to unwise places of amusement in the long run, and I know my husband feels very strongly that the Church loses its spiritual power if it goes in for catering for amusements." "But then, dear Mrs. Greville, your husband, forgive me for saying so, is rather peculiar in his views. He scarcely moves with the times and isn't up to date as they say." Rachel flushed. "The times are not so particularly good that one should wish to move with them," she said. "I am very thankful that my husband does what he considers right without swerving or moving with the times." Rachel was glad to see the last of her visitor, but had hardly said goodbye when the door opened to admit Mrs. Stone. "Of course," she said as she took a seat, "your husband has told you all about last night. I admired him immensely. He didn't give way an inch though the majority were really against him." "But anyhow he had a majority of one." Mrs. Stone laughed. "And he would not have had that if it had not been for me. I didn't agree with him in the least! I must tell you, but I voted for his views as I always feel he is such a good man that he probably knows what is for the good of his people better than I do. If it had not been for my vote, he would himself have had to give the casting vote." "I am very disappointed that you don't agree with us," said Rachel. "Well I do believe in people keeping up with the times, and girls and boys are crazy now for dancing and cards. You can't get them if you don't give way. Things have changed so much since our fathers' times." Rachel was silent. She felt depressed. She quite expected people like Mrs. Moscombe and others who had called to see her, and who did not profess to be religious, to misunderstand Luke's action, but it was a blow to find that her friend Mrs. Stone also disagreed with him. But the last caller was the most trying of all. Rachel heard her mother-in-law open the front door and walk heavily across the little hall. "What has Luke been doing?" she exclaimed almost before she was in the room. "I hear he has quite estranged the four best supporters of the Church." She looked at Rachel as if she were to blame. "It was about the amusement question," said Rachel. "He put down his foot at the proposal to introduce them into the work of the parish." "Well I call it remarkably silly of him. It is a matter of very little importance and certainly not worth wrangling over. I am quite thankful I am not a member of the Council. I could not have voted against my son, but I should have felt very vexed at being a party to such a loss to the Church." "You mean?"