e, and Dexie hoped that the
scene in the church had passed from Elsie's mind, till her question to Mr.
Holbrook proved the contrary. "Do tell us, Mr. Holbrook, what _is_ it
makes those people act so? Is it the talk of the minister that does it? I'm
sure I could only hear a word now and then, though his lips kept moving
even when the noise was the worst."

"That is a hard question to answer, Miss Gurney," was the reply. "Some say
it is the Heavenly Spirit working within them; others think the spirit is
not of a heavenly origin; others, again, say they are getting relief from
the bondage of sin."

"Well, if that is the way they show their relief, I think it would be
better to stay in bondage," said Dexie. "I wonder if it can be the same
craze that used to affect the colored people down South. Grandma's people
kept slaves, and I have heard of such actions amongst them, but if I ever
heard the explanation of them I have completely forgotten it. Still one
would hardly think that a superstitious negro craze would affect the
clear-headed Scotch people in the same manner. It is a mystery to me how
they live through it."

Mr. Holbrook laid back his head and laughed.

"But they are human, like other people, Mr. Holbrook," she urged; "and how
is it that they do not hurt themselves? There was a man with a shock of red
hair, sitting near the chimney, who took the 'jerks.' I daresay you noticed
him. Now, unless his head is made of something different than ours, it must
be smashed in on one side, for he struck the chimney with such rapidity and
force that it sounded quite sickening from where we sat. Really, I should
not have been surprised had he fallen dead to the floor."

"I daresay he never felt it," said Mr. Holbrook, smiling. "I do not believe
that any of them know what they are about when they take the 'jerks,' or
else some of the women are very careless of appearances."

"Oh! well, don't let us talk about them any more," said Elsie. "Papa often
says that everyone has a right to his own belief, and these people seem to
believe _something_, and they really _must_ believe it without merely
saying so, as so many of us do, or else they could not act out their belief
in such a dreadful manner; but whatever their belief is, it must be
awful!"

In a short time they entered the village, which was situated on both sides
of a river, connected by the bridge that gave the place its name. Mr.
Holbrook drove at once to a house where h