"If Mr. Gerrish tries to get him dismissed? He doesn't know; he's quite
in the dark. He says the party of the perverse--the people who think Mr.
Gerrish must have had some good reason for his behaviour, simply because
they can't see any--is unexpectedly large; and it doesn't help matters with
the more respectable people that the most respectable, like Mr. Wilmington
and Colonel Marvin, are Mr. Peck's friends. They think there must be
something wrong if such good men are opposed to Mr. Gerrish."
"And I suspect," said Dr. Morrell soberly, "that Putney's championship
isn't altogether an advantage. The people all concede his brilliancy, and
they are prouder of him on account of his infirmity; but I guess they like
to feel their superiority to him in practical matters. They admire him, but
they don't want to follow him."
"Oh, I suppose so," said Annie disconsolately. "And I imagine that Mr.
Wilmington's course is attributed to Lyra, and that doesn't help Mr. Peck
much with the husbands of the ladies who don't approve of her."
The doctor tacitly declined to touch this delicate point. He asked, after a
pause, "You'll be at the meeting?"
"I couldn't keep away. But I've no vote, that's the worst. I can only
suffer in the cause." The doctor smiled. "You must go, too," she added
eagerly.
"Oh, I shall go; I couldn't keep away either. Besides, I can vote. How are
you getting on with your little _protégée_?
"Idella? Well, it isn't such a simple matter as I supposed, quite. Did you
ever hear anything about her mother?"
"Nothing more than what every one has. Why?" asked the doctor, with
scientific curiosity. "Do you find traits that the father doesn't account
for?"
"Yes. She is very vain and greedy and quick-tempered."
"Are those traits uncommon in children?"
"In such a degree I should think they were. But she's very affectionate,
too, and you can do anything with her through her love of praise. She
puzzles me a good deal. I wish I knew something about her mother. But Mr.
Peck himself is a puzzle. With all my respect for him and regard and
admiration, I can't help seeing that he's a very imperfect character."
Doctor Morrell laughed. "There's a great deal of human nature in man."
"There isn't enough in Mr. Peck," Annie retorted. "From the very first
he has said things that have stirred me up and put me in a fever; but he
always seems to be cold and passive himself."