, or else no time at all."

"What, do you mean that there will be none?"

"No, sir. There will be churching sure enough, but just as time may
chance, not to call it an hour. Best way is to start as soon as you
sights the parson a-coming past the gate down there. Then you're sure
to be in time. Bell strikes out as soon as they sees him beyond the
`Prior's Lane.'"

The Carbonels, in Sunday trim, with William the man-servant, and two
maids, their Prayerbooks in white pocket-handkerchiefs, following in the
rear, set forth for the gate, in the spring freshness. The grass in the
fields was beginning to grow up, the hedges were sprouting with tender
greens and reds, the polished stems of the celandine were opening to the
sunshine in the banks, with here and there a primrose. Birds were
singing all round, and a lark overhead--most delightful pleasures to
those so long shut up in a town. It was the side of a hill, where the
fields were cut out into most curious forms, probably to suit the
winding of a little brook or the shape of the ground; and there were,
near the bottom, signs of a mass of daffodils, which filled the sisters
with delight, though daffodils were not then the fashion, and were
rather despised as yellow and scentless.

As they came near the second gate, they saw a black figure go by on an
old white horse; then they came out on a long ascending lane with deep
ruts, bordered by fresh soft turf on either sides, with hawthorn hedges,
and at intervals dark yew trees.

A cracked bell struck up, by which they understood that the clergyman
had come in sight, and they came themselves out upon a village green,
where geese, donkeys, and boys in greenish smock-frocks, seemed to be
all mixed up together. Thatched cottages stood round the green, and a
public-house--the "Fox and Hounds." The sign consisted of a hunt,
elaborately cut out in tin, huntsman, dogs, and fox, rushing across from
the inn on a high uplifted rod of iron, fastened into a pole on the
further side of the road, whence the sound of the bell proceeded, and
whither the congregation in smock-frocks and black bonnets were making
their way.

Following in this direction, the Carbonels, much amused, passed under
the hunt, went some distance further, and found a green churchyard,
quite shut in by tall elm trees, which, from the road, almost hid the
tiny tumble-down church, from whose wooden belfry the call proceeded.
It really seemed to be buried in t