ect was much too massive and tremendous to permit of any such
trifling.

As the sermon rolled on its majestic course, the congregation listened
with an attentive and discriminating appreciation that testified to
their earnestness and intelligence. True, one here and there dropped
into a momentary doze, but his slumber was never easy, for he was
harassed by the terrible fear of a sudden summons by name from the
pulpit to "awake and give heed to the message," which for the next few
minutes would have an application so personal and pungent that it would
effectually prevent sleep for that and some successive Sabbaths. The
only apparent lapse of attention occurred when Donald Ross opened his
horn snuff-box, and after tapping solemnly upon its lid, drew forth a
huge pinch of snuff and passed it to his neighbor, who, after helping
himself in like manner, passed the box on. That the lapse was only
apparent was made evident by the air of abstraction with which this
operation was carried on, the snuff being held between the thumb and
forefinger for some moments, until a suitable resting-place in the
sermon was reached.

When the minister had arrived at the middle of the second head, he made
the discovery, as was not frequently the case, that the remotest limits
of the alloted time had been passed, and announcing that the subject
would be concluded on the following Sabbath, he summarily brought the
English service to a close, and dismissed the congregation with a brief
prayer, two verses of a psalm, and the benediction.

When Maimie realized that the service was really over, she felt as
if she had been in church for a week. After the benediction the
congregation passed out into the churchyard and disposed themselves in
groups about the gate and along the fences discussing the sermon and
making brief inquiries as to the "weal and ill" of the members of their
families. Mrs. Murray, leaving Hughie and Maimie to wander at will,
passed from group to group, welcomed by all with equal respect and
affection. Young men and old men, women and girls alike, were glad to
get her word. To-day, however, the young men were not at first to be
seen, but Mrs. Murray knew them well enough to suspect that they would
be found at the back of the church, so she passed slowly around the
church, greeting the people as she went, and upon turning the corner she
saw a crowd under the big maple, the rendezvous for the younger portion
of the congregation bef