lly up in the bucket i air yer
brat dady

"the man on the cross ruz fer the hull world aint it nise to ruz."

This delicate effusion of love to her father, Tess read over many times.
With pardonable pride she folded it carefully and placed it in the Bible
where she had read about the cross and dying Christ.

CHAPTER XIX

On Wednesday evening Deacon Hall tucked Augusta's pretty hand under his
arm with a happy sense of proprietorship. He was proud to stand by his
beautiful wife in her fight for church liberty. Hall really believed, as
he had told Dominie Graves, that the world had outgrown its foggy
notions, and he delighted in hearing Augusta air her ideas in meetings;
in watching the rich blood mantling and playing under the transparent
skin; and in listening to the modulated tones of the vibrant voice.
Augusta was his style of woman. The thought of her force of character
made him throw back his shoulders that Wednesday evening as they neared
the church door. Few members had gathered for the hour was early. Deacon
Hall nodded pleasantly to Bill Hopkins, and a broad smile parted the
latter's lips, giving his square face a softer, more genial expression.
Bill calmly took his seat on the left side of the room; crossed his
legs, placed his fingers about the white wart, and then sat looking
thoughtfully out of the window into the lighted street. For the first
time in many months Bill Hopkins was in his chair at the weekly prayer
meeting. His one idea in being present was to witness the Dominie's
success in keeping the women in their places. He had had conscientious
scruples about remaining in a church, which, in spite of the fact that
its tenets forbade its females to rise and voice either prayers or
opinions before the males, countenanced this very abuse.

Bill Hopkins had no objection to women in their places--in fact, he
enjoyed the company of a pretty woman--but it was not her place to try
and teach him. Hopkins had the overwhelming idea of the physical and
moral superiority of men, while, as far as intellectuality was
concerned, women were leagues and leagues behind.

Many a warm argument had been held between Bill and the pretty Mrs.
Hall, and as this lady came into the chapel she saw the former elder
seated in his old chair, the familiar wart shining high and white on the
bald pate. She tilted her pretty chin an instant before inclining her
head, then to the amazement of those present, she part