Although she had not told Jerry, she had heard some of the villagers talking to Martha in the kitchen a little time ago and, although she had not meant to listen, she had heard what the woman said,
“Disgustin’, I calls it! The Vicar ought to stop it, that’s what he ought to do.”
“It’s none of his business,” Martha replied.
“It’s everybody’s business when gentlemen gets drunk and behaves like animals and when women who are no better than they ought to be are brought down from London. It’s a disgrace in a Christian community, that’s what it is.”
“It’s none of our business,” Martha had said again in an uncompromising voice.
“It’s an abomination and the work of the Devil! And I’ve always said as those as don’t protest against sin when they sees it are sinners themselves!”
“If you are pre
