. The minister was speaking rapidly, and, as Effie knew,
solemnly, though she could only here and there catch the meaning of his
words. Indeed, it must have been easy to speak earnestly when
addressing such a multitude of eager listeners, who were hungry for the
bread of life.

"I dare say the difference is in the hearers rather than in the
preaching," said Effie, turning away softly.

"But, Effie, many of them are the very same people. I wish I knew what
he was saying!"

"I dare say it is easier to speak in Gaelic, for one thing. The folk,
at least most of them, like it better, even when they understand
English. And it must make a great difference to a minister when he sees
people listening like that. I dare say he says the very same things to
us in English."

Christie still stood looking in at the open door.

"It ay minds me of the Day of Judgment," she said, "when I see the
people sitting like that, and when they come thronging out into the
kirk-yard and stand about among the graves."

She shuddered slightly, and came and sat down beside Effie, and did not
speak again till the service was over. What a crowd there was then!
How the people came pouring out--with faces grave and composed, indeed,
but not half so solemn, Christie thought, as they ought to have been!
The voices rose to quite a loud hum as they passed from the door.
Greetings were interchanged, and arrangements were made for going home.
Invitations were given and accepted, and the larger part of the crowd
moved slowly away.

The English congregation was comparatively small. The English sermon
immediately followed; but, whatever might be the reason, Christie said
many times to herself that there was a great difference in the
minister's manner of preaching now. He looked tired. And no wonder.
Two long services immediately succeeding each other were enough to tire
him. Christie strove to listen and to understand. She did not succeed
very well. She enjoyed the singing always, and especially to-day
singing out of the Psalms at the end of her own new Bible. But though
she tried very hard to make herself think that she enjoyed the sermon
too, she failed; and she was not sorry when it was over and she found
herself among the crowd in the kirk-yard again. She had still the going
home before her.

To her great delight, Effie refused a ride in the Nesbitts' wagon, in
order that some who had walked in the morning might enjoy it. She hoped
to