a little inclined, to resent the familiarity. The Judge did not
resent it, however. On the contrary, when Mr Snow, nodding sideways
toward the minister, said, "He guessed the folks would get about fitted
this time," he nodded as familiarly back, and said, "He shouldn't wonder
if they did."

There are no such churches built in New England now, as that into which
the minister and his children were led by the Judge. It was very large
and high, and full of windows. It was the brilliant light that struck
the children first, accustomed as they had been to associate with the
Sabbath worship, the dimness of their father's little chapel in Clayton.
Norman the mathematician was immediately seized with a perverse desire
to count the panes, and scandalised Graeme by communicating to her the
result of his calculation, just as her father rose up to begin.

How many people there were in the high square pews, and in the
galleries, and even in the narrow aisles. So many, that Graeme not
dreaming of the quiet nooks hidden among the hills she had thought so
beautiful, wondered where they all could come from. Keen, intelligent
faces, many of them were, that turned toward the minister as he rose; a
little hard and fixed, perhaps, those of the men, and far too delicate,
and care-worn, those of the women, but earnest, thoughtful faces, many
of them were, and kindly withal.

Afterwards--years and years afterwards, when the bairns had to shut
their eyes to recall their father's face, as it gleamed down upon them
from that strange high pulpit, the old people used to talk to them of
this first sermon in Merleville. There was a charm in the Scottish
accent, and in the earnest manner of the minister, which won upon these
people wonderfully. It was heart speaking to heart, an earnest, loving,
human heart, that had sinned and had been forgiven, that had suffered
and had been comforted; one who, through all, had by God's grace
struggled upwards, speaking to men of like passions and necessities. He
spoke as one whom God had given a right to warn, to counsel, to console.
He spoke as one who must give account, and his hearers listened
earnestly. So earnestly that Deacon Fish forgot to hear for Deacon
Slowcome, and Deacon Slowcome forgot to hear for people generally.
Deacon Sterne who seldom forgot anything which he believed to be his
duty, failed for once to prove the orthodoxy of the doctrine by
comparing it with his own, and received it as