第4章

Againthefatherwasonguard，whileBarry，whoseemedtohavedrawnuponsomesecretsourceofstrength，cameathimwithawhirlwindattack，feinting，jabbing，swinging，hooking，tillfinallyhelandedashorthalfarmonthejaw，whichstaggeredhisfatheragainstthewall。

"Pax！"criedtheyoungman。"IhaveallIwant。"

"Great！"saidhisfather。"Ibelieveyoucouldfight，boy，ifyouwereforcedto。"

Intheshedtheysluicedeachotherwithpailsofwater，hadarubdownandgotintotheirdressinggowns。

"Ifeelfine，now，dad，andreadyforanything，"saidBarry，glowingwithhisexerciseandhistub。"Iwasfeelinglikeaquitter。Iguessthatasthmagotatmynerve。ButIbelieveI

willseeitthroughsomeway。"

"Yes？"saidhisfather，andwaited。

"Yes。Theyweretalkingblueruininthereto—night。Financesarebehind，congregationisrunningdown，thereforethepreacherisafailure。"

"Well，lad，rememberthis，"saidhisfather，"neverletyourliverdecideanycourseofactionforyou。Somegoodstiffwork，aturnwiththegloves，forinstance，isthebestpreparationIknowforanyimportantdecision。Amancannotdecidewiselywhenhefeelsgrubby。Yourasthmathisafternoonisasymptomofliver。"

"Itishumiliatingtoacreatureendowedwithconscienceandintellecttodiscoverhowsmallaparttheseplayattimesinhisdecisions。Theancientswerenotfarwrongwhomadethelivertheseatoftheemotions。"

"Well，"saidhisfather，"itisagoodthingtorememberthatmostofourbadhourscomefromourlivers。Sothepreacherisafailure？Whosaidso？"

"Oh，anumberofthem，principallyHayes。"

"ThankGod，andgotosleep，"saidhisfather。"IfHayeswerepleasedwithmypreachingIshouldgreatlysuspectmycalltotheministry。"

"Butseriously，Iamcertainlynotagreatpreacher，andperhapsnotapreacheratall。TheysayIhaveno’pep，’whichwithsomeofthemappearstobethedistinctiveandaltogethernecessarycharacteristicofapopularpreacher。"

"WhatsaidInnes？"enquiredhisfather。

"DidyoueverhearInnessaymuch？Fromhissilenceonewouldjudgethathemustpossesstheaccumulatedwisdomoftheages。"

"Whenhedoestalk，however，hegenerallysayssomething。Whatwashiscontribution？"

"’Ah，weel，’saidthesilentone，’Ahdoothe’snoaSpurgeon，notyetaBillySunday，butye’llhardlybeexpectin’thaefowkatWapitiforninehundreddollarsayear。’Then，blesshisoldheart，headded，’Butthebairnstaktohimlikeduckstowater，soyou’dbetterbideabit。’Sotheydecidedto’bideabit’tillnextSunday。Dad，atfirstIwantedtothrowtheirjobintheirfaces，onlyIalwaysknowthatitistheoldAdaminmethatfeelslikethat，soIdecidedto’bideabit’too。"

"Itisapoorjob，afterall，myboy，"saidhisfather。"It’snogentleman’sjobthewayitiscarriedoninthiscountry。TothinkofyourbeingatthebiddingofacreaturelikeHayes！"

Hecouldhavesaidnobetterword。Theboy’sfaceclearedlikethesuddenshiningofthesunafterrain。Heliftedhisheadandsaid，"ThankGod，notathisbidding，dad。’OneisyourMaster，’"hequoted。"Butafterall，Hayeshassomethinggoodinhim。Doyouknow，Iratherlikehim。He’s——"

"Oh，comenow，we’lldropitrightthere，"saidhisfather，inadisgustedtone。"Whenyoucometofindingsomethingtolikeinthatrat，Isurrender。"

"Whoknows？"saidtheboy，asiftohimself。"PoorHayes。Hemaybequiteawonderfulman，consideringallthings，hisheredityandhisenvironment。WhatwouldIhavebeen，dad，butforyou？"

Hisfathergrunted，pulledhardathispipe，coughedabit，thenlookedhissonstraightintheface，saying，"Godknowswhatanyofusowetoourpast。"Hefellintosilence。Hismindwasfaraway，followinghishearttothepalisadedplotofgroundamongtheFoothillsandthelittlegravethereinwhichhehadcoveredfromhissightherthathadbeentheinspirationtohisbestandfinestthings，andhisdefenceagainstthethingslowandbasethathadoncehoundedhissoul，howlingharduponhistrail。

Theson，knowinghismood，satinsilencewithhim，thenrisingsuddenlyhesathimselfonthearmofhisfather’schair，threwhisarmaroundhisshoulderandsaid，"Dearolddad！Goodoldboyyouare，too。Goodstuff！WhatwouldIhavebeenbutforyou？A

puny，puling，wretchedlittlecrock，afraidofanythingthatcouldspitatme。Doyouremembertheoldgander？Iwasnearmyeternaldamnationthatday。"

"Butyouwonout，myboy，"saidhisfatherinacroakingvoice，puttinghisarmroundhisson。

"Yes，becauseyoumademestickit，justasyouhaveoftenmademestickitsince。MayGodforgetmeifIeverforgetwhatyouhavedoneforme。Shallwereadnow？"

HetookthebigBiblefromitsplaceuponthetable，andturningtheleavesreadaloudfromtheteachingsoftheworld’sgreatestMaster。Itwastheparableofthetalents。

"Ratherhardonthefailure，"hesaidasheclosedthebook。

"No，notthefailure，"saidhisfather，"theslacker，thequitter。

Itisnature’slaw。ThereisnoplaceinGod’suniverseforaquitter。"

"Youareright，dad，"saidBarry。"Good—night。"

Hekissedhisfather，ashehadeverdonesincehisearliestinfancy。Theirprayersweresaidinprivate，theson，clergymanthoughhewas，couldneverbringhimselftooffertoleadthedevotionsofhimatwhosekneehehadkneeledeverynightofhislife，asaboy，forhiseveningprayer。

"Good—night，boy，"saidhisfather，holdinghimbythehandforamomentorso。"Wedonotknowwhatisbeforeus，defeat，loss，suffering。Thatpartisnotinourhandsaltogether，buttheshameofthequitterneverneed，andnevershallbeours。"

Thelittlemansteppedintohisbedroomwithhisshoulderssquaredandhisheaderect。

"ByJove！He’snoquitter，"saidhissontohimself，ashiseyesfollowedhim。"Whenhequitshe’llbedead。Godkeepmefromshaminghim！"

CHAPTERIV

REJECTED

Thehourforthechurchservicehadnotquitearrived，butalreadyanumberofwagons，buckboardsandbuggieshaddrivenupanddepositedtheirloadsatthechurchdoor。Thewomenhadpassedintothechurch，wheretheSundaySchoolwasalreadyinsession；

themenwaitedoutside，drivenbytheheatoftheJulysunandthehotterJulywindintotheshadeofthechurchbuilding。

Throughthechurchwindowscamethedroningofvoices，withnowandthenastaccatorappingoutofcommandsheardabovethedroning。

"That’sHayes，"saidasturdyyoungchap，brownasanIndian，lollinguponthegrass。"Helikestobebossingsomething。"

"That’sso，Ewen，"repliedasmallerman，withafish—likeface，hismouthandnoserunningintoasinglefeature。

"Iguesshe’sdoin’hisbest，NathanPilley，"answeredanotherman，stoutandstocky，withbushysidewhiskersflankingaroundarubicundface，outofwhichstaredtwoprominentblueeyes。

"Oh，Ireckonheis，Mr。Boggs。IhavenowordaginHayes，"

repliedNathanPilley，aNorthOntarioman，who，abandoningarockyfarminMuskoka，hadstrayedtothisfarwestcountryinsearchofbetterfortune。"IhavenowordaginMr。Hayes，Mr。Boggs，"hereiterated。"Infact，Ithinkheoughttobehighlycommendedforhisbeneficentwork。"

"Buthedoesliketohearhimselfgivingoutorders，allthesame，"

persistedtheyoungmanaddressedasEwen。

"Yes，heseemstosorterenjoythat，too，Ewen，"agreedNathan，whowasneverknowntoopposeanyman’sopinion。

"He’sdoin’hisbest，"insistedMr。Boggs，rathersullenly。

"Yes，heisthat，Mr。Boggs，heisthat，"saidNathan。

"Buthelikestobethebigtoadinthepuddle，"saidEwen。

"Well，hecertainlyseemsto，hedoesindeed，Ewen。"

Clearoverthedroningtherearoseatthispointanothersound，achorusofchildishlaughter。

"That’sthepreacher’sclass，"saidBoggs。"Quaresorto’SundaySchoolwherethekidscarryonlikethat。"

"Seemsratherpeculiar，"agreedNathan，"peculiarinSundaySchool，itdoes。"

"What’sthematterwithyoungPickles？"enquiredEwen。

Theeyesofthecompany，followingthepointingfinger，felluponyoungPicklesstandingatthewindowofthelittlevestrytothechurch，andlookingin。Hewasapparentlyconvulsedwithlaughter，withhishandharduponhismouthandnoseasakindofsilencer。

"Doyouknowwhat’sthematterwithhim，Pat？"continuedEwen。

PatMcCann，thefaithfulfriendandshadowofyoungPickles，afterstudyingtheattitudeandmotionsofhisfriend，gaveanswer：

"It’sthepreacher，Iguess。He’skiddin’thekidsinside。He’ssomekidder，too，"hesaid，movingtotakehisplacebesidehisfriend。

"What’shedoinganyway？"saidEwen。"I’mgoingtosee。"

GraduallyalittlecompanygatheredbehindyoungPicklesandPatMcCann。Thewindowcommandedaviewoftheroom，yetinsuchawaythatthegroupwereunobservedbythespeaker。

"Say，yououghttoseenhimdothecamelaminuteago，"whisperedPickles。

Inthelittlevestryroomwerepackedsometwentychildrenofallagesandsizes，withanumberofgrownupswhohadjoinedtheclassinchargeofsomeofitsyoungermembers。Therewas，forinstance，Mrs。Innes，withthetwoyoungestofhernumerousprogenypillowedagainstheryieldingandbillowyperson；andMrs。StewartDuff，aninfantofonlyafewweeksuponherkneeaccountingsufficientlyforthepalenessofhersweetface，andtwoorthreeotherwomenwiththeirsmallchildrenfillingthebenchthatranalongthewall。

"Say！lookatHarryHobbs，"saidPatMcCanntohisfriend。

Uponthestove，whichinsummerwasrelegatedtothecorneroftheroom，satHarryHobbs，amanofanyagefromhisappearance，thinandwiry，withkeen，dartingeyes，whichnow，however，werefasteneduponthepreacher。Allothereyeswere，too。Eventhesmallestofthechildrenseatedonthefrontbenchweregazingwithmouthswideopen，asiffascinated，uponthepreacherwho，movingupanddownwithquick，lithesteps，wastellingthemastory。A

wonderfulstory，too，itseemed，thewonderofitapparentintherivetedeyesandfixedfaces。Itwastheimmortalstory，matchlessinthelanguage，ofJoseph，theHebrewshepherdboy，who，soldintoslaverybyhisbrethren，becameprimeministerofthemightyempireofEgypt。Thevoicetoneoftheminister，nowclearandhigh，nowlowandsoft，vibratinglikethedeepernotesofthe’cello，wasmadeforstorytelling。Changingwitheverychangingemotion，itformedanexquisitemediumtotheheartsofthelistenersfortheexquisitemusicofthetale。

Thestorywasapproachingitsclimacticdenouement；therapturousmomentoftheyoungerbrother’srevealingwasathand；Judah，theolderbrother，wasnowholdingthecentreofthestageandmakingthatthrillingappeal，thanwhichnothingmoremovingistobefoundinourEnglishspeech。Thepreacher’svoicewasthrobbingwithallthepathosofthetale。Motionless，thelittlegrouphungharduponthestory—teller，whenthedooropenedquickly，aredheadappeared，araspingvoicebrokein：

"Yourclassreport，Mr。Dunbar，please。We’rewaitingforit。"

Asighofdisappointmentandregretswepttheroom。

"Oh，darnthelittlewoodpecker！"saidEwenfromtheoutside，inadisgustedtone。"That’sthewaywithHayes。Hethinkshe’sthewholeworks，andthathenevercangetinwrong。"

Thespellwasbroken，nevertoberenewed。Thestoryhurriedtoitsclose，butthegreatclimaxfailedofitspropereffect。

"He’sahummer，ain’the？"exclaimedyoungPicklestohisfriend，PatMcCann。

"Somehummer，andthensome！"repliedPat。

"I’mgoin’in，"saidPickles。

"Aw，whatfor？Heain’tnogoodpreachin’tothemfolks。Bygum！

Ithinkhe’sscaredof’em。"

ButPicklespersisted，andfollowedwiththemenandboyswholoungedlazilyintothechurch，fromwhichtheSundaySchoolhadnowbeendismissed。

ItappearedthatthejudgmentofPatMcCannuponthemeritsofthepreacherwouldbeechoedbythemajorityofthecongregationpresent。Whiletheservicewasconductedinproperformandinreverentspirit，thesermonwasmarkedbythatmostunpardonablesinofwhichsermonscanbeguilty；itwasdull。Solidenoughinmatter，thoughtfulbeyondtheaverage，itwasdeliveredinastyleappallinglywooden，withanutterabsenceofthatarresting，dramaticpowerthatthepreacherhadshowninhischildren’sclass。

Theappearanceofthecongregationwas，asever，areflectionofthesermon。Theheatoftheday，thereactionfromthelongweekintheopenair，thequietmonotonyofthewellmodulatedvoicerisingandfallinginregularcadenceinwhatissupposedbysomanypreacherstobethetonesuitableforanysacredoffice，producedanoverwhelminglysomnolenteffect。Manyofthemslept，somefranklyandopenly，othersundercoverofshadinghands，bowedheads，orothersubterfuges。Othersagainspentthewholeoftheperiodofthesermon，exceptforsomedeliciousmomentsofsurreptitioussleep，inapainfulbutaltogethercommendablestruggleagainsttheinsidiousinfluenceofthegodofslumber。

AmongthelatterwasMrs。Innes，whoseloyaltytoherminister，whichwasasmuchapartofherasherbreathing，contendedinavigorousfightagainsthermuchtoosolidflesh。Itwasacertainaidtowakefulnessthathertwochildren，deepinaudibleslumber，keptherinastateofactiveconcernlesttheirinertandrotundlittlemassesofslipperyfleshshouldeludehergrasp，andwrecktheproprietiesofthehourbyfloppingonthefloor。TherewasalsoafurthersleepdeterrentinthefactthatimmediatelybeforehersatMr。McFettridge，whoseusuallyerectform，yieldingtothesoporificinfluencesoftheenvironment，showedatendencygraduallytosagintoanattitude，relaxedandformless，whichsuggestedsleep。This，totheladybehindhim，partookofthenatureofanaffronttoherminister。ConsequentlysheconsidereditherdutytoarousethesnoozingMcFettridgewithavigorouspokeinthesmalloftheback。

Theeffectwasinstantaneouslyapparent。Asifherinsistentfingerhadtouchedabuttonandreleasedanelectriccurrent，Mr。

McFettridge’ssaggingformshotconvulsivelyintorigidity，andimpingingviolentlyuponthepeacefullyslumberingMr。Boggsontheextremeendofthebench，toppledhimoverintotheaisle。

TheastonishedBoggs，findinghimselfthusdepositeduponthefloor，andbeholdingtheiratefaceofMr。McFettridgegloomingdownuponhim，andfancyinghimtobethecauseofhispresenthumiliatingposition，sprangtohisfeet，swungaviolentblowuponMr。Fettridge’sear，exclaimingsottovoce：

"Takethat，willyou！Andmindyourownbusiness！Youweresleepingyourself，anyway！"

BeforetheastonishedandenragedMr。McFettridgecouldgatherhiswitssufficientlyforaction，thererangovertheastonishedcongregationapealofboyishlaughter。Itwasfromtheminister。

Afewirrepressibleyoungstersjoinedinthelaugh；therestofthecongregation，however，wereheldrigidinthegripofashockedamazement。

"Oh，Isay！doforgiveme，Mr。McFettridge！"criedtheyoungmanatthedesk。"Itwasquiteinvoluntary，Iassureyou。"Then，quicklyrecoveringhimself，headded，"Andnowweshallconcludetheservicebysingingtheseventy—ninthhymn。"

Beforethelastversewassungheremindedtheaudienceofthecongregationalmeetingimmediatelyfollowing，andwithoutfurthercommenttheservicewasbroughttoaclose。

Anumberofthecongregation，amongthemBarry’sfather，departed。

"Sitdown，Neil，"saidMrs。InnestoNeilFraser。"You’llbewantedIdoot。"AndNeil，protestingthatheknewnothingaboutchurchbusiness，satdown。

AtthebackofthechurchweregatheredHarryHobbs，youngPickles，andothersofthelessimportantattendantsofthechurch，whohadbeeninducedtoremainbytherumourofa"scrap。"

Byafatalmischance，thepliantNathanPilleywaselectedchairman。Thisgentlemanwasobsessedbythenotionthathepossessedinahighdegreethetwoqualitieswhichheconsideredessentialtotheharmoniousandexpeditiousconductofapublicmeeting，namely，aninvincibledeterminationtoagreewitheveryspeaker，andanequallyinvincibledeterminationtogetmotionspassed。

Inaramblingandaimlessspeech，Mr。Pilleysetforthinasomewhatgeneralwaythestepsleadinguptothismeeting，andthencalleduponMr。Innes，thechairmanoftheBoardofManagement，tostatemorespecificallytheobjectforwhichitwascalled。

Mr。Innes，whowasincurablyaversetovolublespeech，whetherpublicorprivate，aroseandsaid，inrollingDoric：

"Weel，Mr。Chair—r—man，there’snomuchtobedone。We’rebehindafewhundreddollars，butifsomeonewillgoaboutwi’abitpaper，naedootthear—rear—rswadsoonbemadeup，andeverythingwadbear—richt。"

"Exactly，"saidMr。Pilleypleasantly。"Nowwillsomeoneofferamotion？"

ThereuponMr。Hayeswasinstantlyuponhisfeet，andinavoicethinandraspingexclaimed：

"Mr。Chairman，there’sbusinesstobedone，andweareheretodoit，andwe’renotgoingtoberushedthroughinthisway。"

"Exactly，Mr。Hayes，exactly，"saidMr。Pilley。"Wemustgivethesemattersthefullestconsideration。"

Thenfollowedasilence。

"PerhapsMr。Hayes——"continuedthechairman，lookingappealinglyatthatgentleman。

"Well，Mr。Chairman，"saidMr。Hayes，withanappeasedbutslightlyinjuredair，"itisnotmyplacetosetforththecauseofthismeetingbeingcalled。Ifthechairmanoftheboardwoulddohisduty"——hereheglaredattheunconsciousMr。Innes——"hewouldsetbeforeitthethingsthathavemadethismeetingnecessary，andthatcallfordrasticaction。"

"Hear！Hear！"criedMr。Boggs。

"Exactlyso，"acquiescedthechairman。"Pleasecontinue，Mr。Hayes。"

Mr。Hayescontinued："Thesituationbrieflyisthis：Wearealmosthopelesslyindebt，and——"

"Howmuch？"enquiredNeilFraser，brisklyinterrupting。

"Sevenhundreddollars，"repliedMr。Hayes，"andfurther——"

"Fivehundreddollars，"saidMr。Innes。

"Ihaveexaminedthetreasurer’sbooks，"saidMr。Hayesinthecalmlytriumphanttoneofonesureofhisposition，"andIfindtheamounttobesevenhundreddollars，andtherefore——"

"Fivehundreddollars，"repeatedMr。Innes，gazingintospace。

"Sevenhundreddollars，Isay，"snappedMr。Hayes。

"Fivehundreddollars，"reiteratedMr。Innes，withoutfurthercomment。

"IsayIhaveexaminedthebooks。Thearrearsaresevenhundreddollars。"

"Fivehundreddollars，"saidMr。Innescalmly。

Theyoungstersatthebacksnickered。

"Gotoit！"saidHarryHobbs，underhisbreath。

Eventheminister，whowassittingimmediatelybehindHarry，couldnotrestrainasmile。

"Mr。Chairman，"criedMr。Hayes，indignantly，"Iappealagainstthisinterruption。Iassert——"

"Where’sthetreasurer？"saidNeilFraser。"What’stheuseofthischewin’therag？"

"Ah！Exactlyso，"saidthechairman，greatlyrelieved。"Mr。Boggs——

PerhapsMr。Boggswillenlightenus。"

Mr。Boggsarosewithponderousdeliberation。

"Mr。Chairman，"hesaid，"inonesenseMr。Hayesisrightwhenhestatesthearrearstobesevenhundreddollars——"

"FivehundreddollarsA’mtellin’ye，"saidMr。Inneswiththefirstsignoffeelinghehadshown。

"AndMr。Innesisalsoright，"continuedMr。Boggs，ignoringtheinterruption，"whenhemakesthearrearsfivehundreddollars，thetwohundreddollarsdifferencebeingthequarterlyrevenuenowdue。"

"Nextweek，"saidMr。Innes，revertingtohiswontedcalm。

"Exactlyso，"saidthechairman，rubbinghishandsamiably；"sothatthesevenhundreddollarswenowowe——"

ThiswastoomuchevenfortheimperturbableMr。Innes。

Hearoseinhisplace，movedoutintotheaisle，advancedtowardtheplatform，andwitharmoutstretched，exclaimedinwrathfultones：

"Mon，didyenohearmetellin’ye？Iwantnaemontomak’meale—ear。"

AtthispointMr。StewartDuff，whohadcometoconveyhiswifehome，andhadgottiredwaitingforheroutside，enteredthechurch。

"Oh，getonwiththebusiness，"saidNeilFraser，who，althoughenjoyingthescene，wasbecominganxiousforhisdinner。"Thequestionwhat’stobedonewiththefivehundreddollars’arrears。

Isay，let’smakeituprighthere。Iamwillingtogive——"

"No，Mr。Chairman，"shoutedMr。Hayes，whowasnotoriouslyaversetopartingwithhismoney，andwasespeciallyfearfulofapublicsubscription。

"Thereissomethingmorethanmerearrears——muchmore——"

"Ay，thereis，"emphaticallydeclaredMr。McFettridge，risingstraightandstiff。"I’mforplainspeakin’。Thefinancesisnottheworstaboutthiscongregation。Thecongregationhasfallenoff。Otherchurchesinthisvillagehasgoodcongregations。Whyshouldn’twe？Thetruthis，Mr。Chairman，"——Mr。McFettridge’svoicerolleddeepandsonorousovertheaudience——"wewantapopularpreacher——apreacherthatdraws——apreacherwithsomepep。"

"Hear！hear！"criedMr。Boggs。"Pep’swhatwewant。That’sit——

pep。"

"Pep，"echoedthechairman。"Exactlyso，pep。"

"Morethanthat，"continuedMr。McFettridge，"wewantaministerthat’sagoodmixer——onethatstandsinwiththeboys。"

"Hear！Hear！"criedMr。Boggsagain。

"Amixer！Exactly！"agreedthechairman。"Amixer！"noddingpleasantlyatMr。Boggs。

"AndanotherthingIwillsay，"continuedMr。McFettridge，"nowthatIamonmyfeet。Wewantapreacherthatwillsticktohisjob——thatwillpreachthegospelandnotgomeddlin’withothermatters——withpoliticsandsuchlike。"

"Orprohibition，"shoutedHarryHobbsfromtherear，totheundilutedjoyoftheyoungstersinhisvicinity。

Theministershookhisheadathim。

"Yes，prohibition，"answeredMr。McFettridge，facingtowardtherearofthechurchdefiantly。"Lethimsticktohispreachingthegospel；IbelievethetimehascomeforachangeandI’mpreparedtomakeamotionthatweaskourministertoresign，andthatmotionInowmake。"

"Secondthemotion，"criedMr。Boggspromptly。

"Youhaveheardthemotion，"saidthechairman，withbusiness—likepromptitude。"Areyoureadyforthequestion？"

"Question，"saidMr。Hayes，afterafewmoments’silence，brokenbytheshufflingofsomemembersintheirseats，andbytheaudiblewhisperingofMrs。Innes，evidentlyexhortingherhusbandtoaction。

"Thenallthoseinfavourofthemotionwillplease——"

Thenfrombehindtheorganalittlevoicepipedup，"Doesthismean，Mr。Chairman，thatweloseourminister？"

ItwasMissQuigg，aladywhoseyearsnogallantrycouldsetbelowforty，forherappearanceindicatedthatshewaslongpastthebloomofheryouth。Shewasthin，almosttothepointoffrailness，withsharp，delicatelycutfeatures；butthelittlechinwasfirm，andaflashofthebrowneyesrevealedafierysoulwithin。MissQuiggwasthemillineranddressmakerofthevillage，andwasherselfawalkingmodelofherownexquisitetasteinclothesandhats。Itwasonlyherfailinghealththathaddrivenhertoabandonamuchlargerspherethanherpresentpositionoffered，butevenhereherfamewassuchastodrawtoherlittleshopcustomersfromthevillagesroundaboutformanymiles。

"Doesthismean，sir，thatMr。Dunbarwillleaveus？"sherepeated。

"Well，——yes，madam——thatis，Miss，Isuppose，inaway——practicallyitwouldamounttothat。"

"Willyoutellmeyesorno，please，"MissQuigg’sneatlittlefigurewasalla—quivertothetipsofherhatplumes。

"Well，"saidthechairman，squirmingundertheunpleasantexperienceofbeingforcedtoadefiniteanswer，"Isuppose，——yes。"

MissQuiggturnedfromthesquirmingandsmilingMr。Pilleyincontempt。

"Then，"shesaid，"Isayno。AndIbelievetherearemanyherewhowouldsayno——andmen，too。"Thewealthofindignationandcontemptuousscorninfusedintothewordbywhichthedifferenceinsexofthehumanspecieswasindicated，madethoseunhappyindividualsglanceshamefacedlyateachother——"onlytheyaretootimid，thecreatures！ortooindifferent。"

Againtherewasanexchangeoffurtiveglancesandsmilesandanuneasyshiftingofpositiononthepartof"thecreatures。"

"Butifyougivethemtime，Mr。Chairman，Ibelievetheywillperhapsgetupcourageenoughtospeak。"

MissQuiggsatdowninherplacebehindtheorgan，disappearingquitefromviewexceptforthetipsofherplumes，whoserapidandrhythmicvibrationswereeloquentofthebeatingofhergallantlittleheart。

"Exactlyso，"saidthechairman，inconfusedbutheartyacquiescence。

"Perhapssomeonewillsaysomething。"

ThenMr。Innes，forcedtoachangeofpositionbythephysicaldiscomfortcausedbyhiswife’sprodding，roseandsaid，"Idinnaseetheneedo’anychange。Mr。Dunbarisnoagreatpreacher，butAhdoothedoeshisbest。Andthebairnsalllikehim。"