Chapter IV

As Mrs. Otway left the cathedral, certain remarks
made to her by members of the little congregation
jarred on her, and made her feel, almost for the
first time in her life, thoroughly out of touch with
her friends and neighbours.

Some one whom Mrs. Otway really liked and respected
came up to her and exclaimed, "I couldn't
help feeling sorry the Dean did not mention France
and the French! Any one listening to him just now
would have thought that only Germany and ourselves
and Belgium were involved in this awful business."
And then the speaker, seeing that her words were not
very acceptable, added quietly, "But of course the
Dean, with so many German friends, is in a difficult
position just now." In fact, almost every one said
something that hurt and annoyed her, and that
though it was often only a word of satisfaction that
at last England had gone in, as more than one of
them put it, "on the right side."

Passing through the arch of the square gateway
which separates the town from the Close, Mrs. Otway
hurried down the pretty, quiet street which leads in
a rather roundabout way, and past one of the most
beautiful grey stone crosses in England, into the great
market square which is one of the glories of the famous
cathedral city. Once there, she crossed the wide
space, part cobbled, part paved, and made her way
into a large building of stucco and red brick which

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v?