From this region, after some difficulty and delay, the parlourmaid produced the W-Z volume of an Encyclopaedia and, in deference to the fact that the demand for it had come from Miss Van Vluyck, laid the ponderous tome before her.
There was a moment of painful suspense while Miss Van Vluyck rubbed her spectacles, adjusted them, and turned to Z; and a murmur of surprise when she said: "It isn't here."
"I suppose," said Mrs. Plinth, "it's not fit to be put in a book of reference."
"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Mrs. Ballinger. "Try X."
Miss Van Vluyck turned back through the volume, peering shortsightedly up and down the pages, till she came to a stop and remained motionless, like a dog on a point.
"Well, have you found it?" Mrs. Ballinger enquired, after a considerable delay.
"Yes. I've found it," said Miss Van Vluyck in a queer voice.
Mrs. Plinth hastily interposed: "I beg you won't read it aloud if there's anything offensive."
Miss Van Vluyck, without answering, continued her silent scrutiny.
"Well, what is it?" exclaimed Laura Glyde excitedly.
"DO tell us!" urged Mrs. Leveret, feeling that she would have something awful to tell her sister.
Miss Van Vluyck pushed the volume aside and turned slowly toward the expectant group.
"It's a river."
"A RIVER?"
"Yes: in Brazil. Isn't that where she's been living?"
"Who? Fanny Roby? Oh, but you must be mistaken. You've been reading the wrong thing," Mrs. Ballinger exclaimed, leaning over her to seize the volume.
"It's the only Xingu in the Encyclopaedia; and she has been living in Brazil," Miss Van Vluyck persisted.
"Yes: her brother has a consulship there," Mrs. Leveret eagerly interposed.
"But it's too ridiculous! I -- we -- why we all remember studying Xingu last year -- or the year before last," Mrs. Ballinger stammered.
"I thought I did when you said so," Laura Glyde avowed.
"I said so?" cried Mrs. Ballinger.
"Yes. You said it had crowded everything else out of your mind."
"Well, you said it had changed your whole life!"
"For that matter, Miss Van Vluyck said she had never grudged the time she'd given it."
Mrs. Plinth interposed: "I made it clear that I knew nothing whatever of the original."
Mrs. Ballinger broke off the dispute with a groan. "Oh, what does it all matter if she's been making fools of us? I believe Miss Van Vluyck's right -- she was talking of the river all the while!"
"How could she? It's too preposterous," Miss Glyde exclaimed.
