Againthefatherwasonguard，whileBarry，whoseemedtohavedrawnuponsomesecretsourceofstrength，cameathimwithawhirlwindattack，feinting，jabbing，swinging，hooking，tillfinallyhelandedashorthalfarmonthejaw，whichstaggeredhisfatheragainstthewall。
\"Pax！\"criedtheyoungman。\"IhaveallIwant。\"
\"Great！\"saidhisfather。\"Ibelieveyoucouldfight，boy，ifyouwereforcedto。\"
Intheshedtheysluicedeachotherwithpailsofwater，hadarubdownandgotintotheirdressinggowns。
\"Ifeelfine，now，dad，andreadyforanything，\"saidBarry，glowingwithhisexerciseandhistub。\"Iwasfeelinglikeaquitter。Iguessthatasthmagotatmynerve。ButIbelieveI
willseeitthroughsomeway。\"
\"Yes？\"saidhisfather，andwaited。
\"Yes。Theyweretalkingblueruininthereto—night。Financesarebehind，congregationisrunningdown，thereforethepreacherisafailure。\"
\"Well，lad，rememberthis，\"saidhisfather，\"neverletyourliverdecideanycourseofactionforyou。Somegoodstiffwork，aturnwiththegloves，forinstance，isthebestpreparationIknowforanyimportantdecision。Amancannotdecidewiselywhenhefeelsgrubby。Yourasthmathisafternoonisasymptomofliver。\"
\"Itishumiliatingtoacreatureendowedwithconscienceandintellecttodiscoverhowsmallaparttheseplayattimesinhisdecisions。Theancientswerenotfarwrongwhomadethelivertheseatoftheemotions。\"
\"Well，\"saidhisfather，\"itisagoodthingtorememberthatmostofourbadhourscomefromourlivers。Sothepreacherisafailure？Whosaidso？\"
\"Oh，anumberofthem，principallyHayes。\"
\"ThankGod，andgotosleep，\"saidhisfather。\"IfHayeswerepleasedwithmypreachingIshouldgreatlysuspectmycalltotheministry。\"
\"Butseriously，Iamcertainlynotagreatpreacher，andperhapsnotapreacheratall。TheysayIhaveno’pep，’whichwithsomeofthemappearstobethedistinctiveandaltogethernecessarycharacteristicofapopularpreacher。\"
\"WhatsaidInnes？\"enquiredhisfather。
\"DidyoueverhearInnessaymuch？Fromhissilenceonewouldjudgethathemustpossesstheaccumulatedwisdomoftheages。\"
\"Whenhedoestalk，however，hegenerallysayssomething。Whatwashiscontribution？\"
\"’Ah，weel，’saidthesilentone，’Ahdoothe’snoaSpurgeon，notyetaBillySunday，butye’llhardlybeexpectin’thaefowkatWapitiforninehundreddollarsayear。’Then，blesshisoldheart，headded，’Butthebairnstaktohimlikeduckstowater，soyou’dbetterbideabit。’Sotheydecidedto’bideabit’tillnextSunday。Dad，atfirstIwantedtothrowtheirjobintheirfaces，onlyIalwaysknowthatitistheoldAdaminmethatfeelslikethat，soIdecidedto’bideabit’too。\"
\"Itisapoorjob，afterall，myboy，\"saidhisfather。\"It’snogentleman’sjobthewayitiscarriedoninthiscountry。TothinkofyourbeingatthebiddingofacreaturelikeHayes！\"
Hecouldhavesaidnobetterword。Theboy’sfaceclearedlikethesuddenshiningofthesunafterrain。Heliftedhisheadandsaid，\"ThankGod，notathisbidding，dad。’OneisyourMaster，’\"hequoted。\"Butafterall，Hayeshassomethinggoodinhim。Doyouknow，Iratherlikehim。He’s——\"
\"Oh，comenow，we’lldropitrightthere，\"saidhisfather，inadisgustedtone。\"Whenyoucometofindingsomethingtolikeinthatrat，Isurrender。\"
\"Whoknows？\"saidtheboy，asiftohimself。\"PoorHayes。Hemaybequiteawonderfulman，consideringallthings，hisheredityandhisenvironment。WhatwouldIhavebeen，dad，butforyou？\"
Hisfathergrunted，pulledhardathispipe，coughedabit，thenlookedhissonstraightintheface，saying，\"Godknowswhatanyofusowetoourpast。\"Hefellintosilence。Hismindwasfaraway，followinghishearttothepalisadedplotofgroundamongtheFoothillsandthelittlegravethereinwhichhehadcoveredfromhissightherthathadbeentheinspirationtohisbestandfinestthings，andhisdefenceagainstthethingslowandbasethathadoncehoundedhissoul，howlingharduponhistrail。
Theson，knowinghismood，satinsilencewithhim，thenrisingsuddenlyhesathimselfonthearmofhisfather’schair，threwhisarmaroundhisshoulderandsaid，\"Dearolddad！Goodoldboyyouare，too。Goodstuff！WhatwouldIhavebeenbutforyou？A
puny，puling，wretchedlittlecrock，afraidofanythingthatcouldspitatme。Doyouremembertheoldgander？Iwasnearmyeternaldamnationthatday。\"
\"Butyouwonout，myboy，\"saidhisfatherinacroakingvoice，puttinghisarmroundhisson。
\"Yes，becauseyoumademestickit，justasyouhaveoftenmademestickitsince。MayGodforgetmeifIeverforgetwhatyouhavedoneforme。Shallwereadnow？\"
HetookthebigBiblefromitsplaceuponthetable，andturningtheleavesreadaloudfromtheteachingsoftheworld’sgreatestMaster。Itwastheparableofthetalents。
\"Ratherhardonthefailure，\"hesaidasheclosedthebook。
\"No，notthefailure，\"saidhisfather，\"theslacker，thequitter。
Itisnature’slaw。ThereisnoplaceinGod’suniverseforaquitter。\"
\"Youareright，dad，\"saidBarry。\"Good—night。\"
Hekissedhisfather，ashehadeverdonesincehisearliestinfancy。Theirprayersweresaidinprivate，theson，clergymanthoughhewas，couldneverbringhimselftooffertoleadthedevotionsofhimatwhosekneehehadkneeledeverynightofhislife，asaboy，forhiseveningprayer。
\"Good—night，boy，\"saidhisfather，holdinghimbythehandforamomentorso。\"Wedonotknowwhatisbeforeus，defeat，loss，suffering。Thatpartisnotinourhandsaltogether，buttheshameofthequitterneverneed，andnevershallbeours。\"
Thelittlemansteppedintohisbedroomwithhisshoulderssquaredandhisheaderect。
\"ByJove！He’snoquitter，\"saidhissontohimself，ashiseyesfollowedhim。\"Whenhequitshe’llbedead。Godkeepmefromshaminghim！\"
CHAPTERIV
REJECTED
Thehourforthechurchservicehadnotquitearrived，butalreadyanumberofwagons，buckboardsandbuggieshaddrivenupanddepositedtheirloadsatthechurchdoor。Thewomenhadpassedintothechurch，wheretheSundaySchoolwasalreadyinsession；
themenwaitedoutside，drivenbytheheatoftheJulysunandthehotterJulywindintotheshadeofthechurchbuilding。
Throughthechurchwindowscamethedroningofvoices，withnowandthenastaccatorappingoutofcommandsheardabovethedroning。
\"That’sHayes，\"saidasturdyyoungchap，brownasanIndian，lollinguponthegrass。\"Helikestobebossingsomething。\"
\"That’sso，Ewen，\"repliedasmallerman，withafish—likeface，hismouthandnoserunningintoasinglefeature。
\"Iguesshe’sdoin’hisbest，NathanPilley，\"answeredanotherman，stoutandstocky，withbushysidewhiskersflankingaroundarubicundface，outofwhichstaredtwoprominentblueeyes。
\"Oh，Ireckonheis，Mr。Boggs。IhavenowordaginHayes，\"
repliedNathanPilley，aNorthOntarioman，who，abandoningarockyfarminMuskoka，hadstrayedtothisfarwestcountryinsearchofbetterfortune。\"IhavenowordaginMr。Hayes，Mr。Boggs，\"hereiterated。\"Infact，Ithinkheoughttobehighlycommendedforhisbeneficentwork。\"
\"Buthedoesliketohearhimselfgivingoutorders，allthesame，\"
persistedtheyoungmanaddressedasEwen。
\"Yes，heseemstosorterenjoythat，too，Ewen，\"agreedNathan，whowasneverknowntoopposeanyman’sopinion。
\"He’sdoin’hisbest，\"insistedMr。Boggs，rathersullenly。
\"Yes，heisthat，Mr。Boggs，heisthat，\"saidNathan。
\"Buthelikestobethebigtoadinthepuddle，\"saidEwen。
\"Well，hecertainlyseemsto，hedoesindeed，Ewen。\"
Clearoverthedroningtherearoseatthispointanothersound，achorusofchildishlaughter。
\"That’sthepreacher’sclass，\"saidBoggs。\"Quaresorto’SundaySchoolwherethekidscarryonlikethat。\"
\"Seemsratherpeculiar，\"agreedNathan，\"peculiarinSundaySchool，itdoes。\"
\"What’sthematterwithyoungPickles？\"enquiredEwen。
Theeyesofthecompany，followingthepointingfinger，felluponyoungPicklesstandingatthewindowofthelittlevestrytothechurch，andlookingin。Hewasapparentlyconvulsedwithlaughter，withhishandharduponhismouthandnoseasakindofsilencer。
\"Doyouknowwhat’sthematterwithhim，Pat？\"continuedEwen。
PatMcCann，thefaithfulfriendandshadowofyoungPickles，afterstudyingtheattitudeandmotionsofhisfriend，gaveanswer：
\"It’sthepreacher，Iguess。He’skiddin’thekidsinside。He’ssomekidder，too，\"hesaid，movingtotakehisplacebesidehisfriend。
\"What’shedoinganyway？\"saidEwen。\"I’mgoingtosee。\"
GraduallyalittlecompanygatheredbehindyoungPicklesandPatMcCann。Thewindowcommandedaviewoftheroom，yetinsuchawaythatthegroupwereunobservedbythespeaker。
\"Say，yououghttoseenhimdothecamelaminuteago，\"whisperedPickles。
Inthelittlevestryroomwerepackedsometwentychildrenofallagesandsizes，withanumberofgrownupswhohadjoinedtheclassinchargeofsomeofitsyoungermembers。Therewas，forinstance，Mrs。Innes，withthetwoyoungestofhernumerousprogenypillowedagainstheryieldingandbillowyperson；andMrs。StewartDuff，aninfantofonlyafewweeksuponherkneeaccountingsufficientlyforthepalenessofhersweetface，andtwoorthreeotherwomenwiththeirsmallchildrenfillingthebenchthatranalongthewall。
\"Say！lookatHarryHobbs，\"saidPatMcCanntohisfriend。
Uponthestove，whichinsummerwasrelegatedtothecorneroftheroom，satHarryHobbs，amanofanyagefromhisappearance，thinandwiry，withkeen，dartingeyes，whichnow，however，werefasteneduponthepreacher。Allothereyeswere，too。Eventhesmallestofthechildrenseatedonthefrontbenchweregazingwithmouthswideopen，asiffascinated，uponthepreacherwho，movingupanddownwithquick，lithesteps，wastellingthemastory。A
wonderfulstory，too，itseemed，thewonderofitapparentintherivetedeyesandfixedfaces。Itwastheimmortalstory，matchlessinthelanguage，ofJoseph，theHebrewshepherdboy，who，soldintoslaverybyhisbrethren，becameprimeministerofthemightyempireofEgypt。Thevoicetoneoftheminister，nowclearandhigh，nowlowandsoft，vibratinglikethedeepernotesofthe’cello，wasmadeforstorytelling。Changingwitheverychangingemotion，itformedanexquisitemediumtotheheartsofthelistenersfortheexquisitemusicofthetale。
Thestorywasapproachingitsclimacticdenouement；therapturousmomentoftheyoungerbrother’srevealingwasathand；Judah，theolderbrother，wasnowholdingthecentreofthestageandmakingthatthrillingappeal，thanwhichnothingmoremovingistobefoundinourEnglishspeech。Thepreacher’svoicewasthrobbingwithallthepathosofthetale。Motionless，thelittlegrouphungharduponthestory—teller，whenthedooropenedquickly，aredheadappeared，araspingvoicebrokein：
\"Yourclassreport，Mr。Dunbar，please。We’rewaitingforit。\"
Asighofdisappointmentandregretswepttheroom。
\"Oh，darnthelittlewoodpecker！\"saidEwenfromtheoutside，inadisgustedtone。\"That’sthewaywithHayes。Hethinkshe’sthewholeworks，andthathenevercangetinwrong。\"
Thespellwasbroken，nevertoberenewed。Thestoryhurriedtoitsclose，butthegreatclimaxfailedofitspropereffect。
\"He’sahummer，ain’the？\"exclaimedyoungPicklestohisfriend，PatMcCann。
\"Somehummer，andthensome！\"repliedPat。
\"I’mgoin’in，\"saidPickles。
\"Aw，whatfor？Heain’tnogoodpreachin’tothemfolks。Bygum！
Ithinkhe’sscaredof’em。\"
ButPicklespersisted，andfollowedwiththemenandboyswholoungedlazilyintothechurch，fromwhichtheSundaySchoolhadnowbeendismissed。
ItappearedthatthejudgmentofPatMcCannuponthemeritsofthepreacherwouldbeechoedbythemajorityofthecongregationpresent。Whiletheservicewasconductedinproperformandinreverentspirit，thesermonwasmarkedbythatmostunpardonablesinofwhichsermonscanbeguilty；itwasdull。Solidenoughinmatter，thoughtfulbeyondtheaverage，itwasdeliveredinastyleappallinglywooden，withanutterabsenceofthatarresting，dramaticpowerthatthepreacherhadshowninhischildren’sclass。
Theappearanceofthecongregationwas，asever，areflectionofthesermon。Theheatoftheday，thereactionfromthelongweekintheopenair，thequietmonotonyofthewellmodulatedvoicerisingandfallinginregularcadenceinwhatissupposedbysomanypreacherstobethetonesuitableforanysacredoffice，producedanoverwhelminglysomnolenteffect。Manyofthemslept，somefranklyandopenly，othersundercoverofshadinghands，bowedheads，orothersubterfuges。Othersagainspentthewholeoftheperiodofthesermon，exceptforsomedeliciousmomentsofsurreptitioussleep，inapainfulbutaltogethercommendablestruggleagainsttheinsidiousinfluenceofthegodofslumber。
AmongthelatterwasMrs。Innes，whoseloyaltytoherminister，whichwasasmuchapartofherasherbreathing，contendedinavigorousfightagainsthermuchtoosolidflesh。Itwasacertainaidtowakefulnessthathertwochildren，deepinaudibleslumber，keptherinastateofactiveconcernlesttheirinertandrotundlittlemassesofslipperyfleshshouldeludehergrasp，andwrecktheproprietiesofthehourbyfloppingonthefloor。TherewasalsoafurthersleepdeterrentinthefactthatimmediatelybeforehersatMr。McFettridge，whoseusuallyerectform，yieldingtothesoporificinfluencesoftheenvironment，showedatendencygraduallytosagintoanattitude，relaxedandformless，whichsuggestedsleep。This，totheladybehindhim，partookofthenatureofanaffronttoherminister。ConsequentlysheconsidereditherdutytoarousethesnoozingMcFettridgewithavigorouspokeinthesmalloftheback。
Theeffectwasinstantaneouslyapparent。Asifherinsistentfingerhadtouchedabuttonandreleasedanelectriccurrent，Mr。
McFettridge’ssaggingformshotconvulsivelyintorigidity，andimpingingviolentlyuponthepeacefullyslumberingMr。Boggsontheextremeendofthebench，toppledhimoverintotheaisle。
TheastonishedBoggs，findinghimselfthusdepositeduponthefloor，andbeholdingtheiratefaceofMr。McFettridgegloomingdownuponhim，andfancyinghimtobethecauseofhispresenthumiliatingposition，sprangtohisfeet，swungaviolentblowuponMr。Fettridge’sear，exclaimingsottovoce：
\"Takethat，willyou！Andmindyourownbusiness！Youweresleepingyourself，anyway！\"
BeforetheastonishedandenragedMr。McFettridgecouldgatherhiswitssufficientlyforaction，thererangovertheastonishedcongregationapealofboyishlaughter。Itwasfromtheminister。
Afewirrepressibleyoungstersjoinedinthelaugh；therestofthecongregation，however，wereheldrigidinthegripofashockedamazement。
\"Oh，Isay！doforgiveme，Mr。McFettridge！\"criedtheyoungmanatthedesk。\"Itwasquiteinvoluntary，Iassureyou。\"Then，quicklyrecoveringhimself，headded，\"Andnowweshallconcludetheservicebysingingtheseventy—ninthhymn。\"
Beforethelastversewassungheremindedtheaudienceofthecongregationalmeetingimmediatelyfollowing，andwithoutfurthercommenttheservicewasbroughttoaclose。
Anumberofthecongregation，amongthemBarry’sfather，departed。
\"Sitdown，Neil，\"saidMrs。InnestoNeilFraser。\"You’llbewantedIdoot。\"AndNeil，protestingthatheknewnothingaboutchurchbusiness，satdown。
AtthebackofthechurchweregatheredHarryHobbs，youngPickles，andothersofthelessimportantattendantsofthechurch，whohadbeeninducedtoremainbytherumourofa\"scrap。\"
Byafatalmischance，thepliantNathanPilleywaselectedchairman。Thisgentlemanwasobsessedbythenotionthathepossessedinahighdegreethetwoqualitieswhichheconsideredessentialtotheharmoniousandexpeditiousconductofapublicmeeting，namely，aninvincibledeterminationtoagreewitheveryspeaker，andanequallyinvincibledeterminationtogetmotionspassed。
Inaramblingandaimlessspeech，Mr。Pilleysetforthinasomewhatgeneralwaythestepsleadinguptothismeeting，andthencalleduponMr。Innes，thechairmanoftheBoardofManagement，tostatemorespecificallytheobjectforwhichitwascalled。
Mr。Innes，whowasincurablyaversetovolublespeech，whetherpublicorprivate，aroseandsaid，inrollingDoric：
\"Weel，Mr。Chair—r—man，there’snomuchtobedone。We’rebehindafewhundreddollars，butifsomeonewillgoaboutwi’abitpaper，naedootthear—rear—rswadsoonbemadeup，andeverythingwadbear—richt。\"
\"Exactly，\"saidMr。Pilleypleasantly。\"Nowwillsomeoneofferamotion？\"
ThereuponMr。Hayeswasinstantlyuponhisfeet，andinavoicethinandraspingexclaimed：
\"Mr。Chairman，there’sbusinesstobedone，andweareheretodoit，andwe’renotgoingtoberushedthroughinthisway。\"
\"Exactly，Mr。Hayes，exactly，\"saidMr。Pilley。\"Wemustgivethesemattersthefullestconsideration。\"
Thenfollowedasilence。
\"PerhapsMr。Hayes——\"continuedthechairman，lookingappealinglyatthatgentleman。
\"Well，Mr。Chairman，\"saidMr。Hayes，withanappeasedbutslightlyinjuredair，\"itisnotmyplacetosetforththecauseofthismeetingbeingcalled。Ifthechairmanoftheboardwoulddohisduty\"——hereheglaredattheunconsciousMr。Innes——\"hewouldsetbeforeitthethingsthathavemadethismeetingnecessary，andthatcallfordrasticaction。\"
\"Hear！Hear！\"criedMr。Boggs。
\"Exactlyso，\"acquiescedthechairman。\"Pleasecontinue，Mr。Hayes。\"
Mr。Hayescontinued：\"Thesituationbrieflyisthis：Wearealmosthopelesslyindebt，and——\"
\"Howmuch？\"enquiredNeilFraser，brisklyinterrupting。
\"Sevenhundreddollars，\"repliedMr。Hayes，\"andfurther——\"
\"Fivehundreddollars，\"saidMr。Innes。
\"Ihaveexaminedthetreasurer’sbooks，\"saidMr。Hayesinthecalmlytriumphanttoneofonesureofhisposition，\"andIfindtheamounttobesevenhundreddollars，andtherefore——\"
\"Fivehundreddollars，\"repeatedMr。Innes，gazingintospace。
\"Sevenhundreddollars，Isay，\"snappedMr。Hayes。
\"Fivehundreddollars，\"reiteratedMr。Innes，withoutfurthercomment。
\"IsayIhaveexaminedthebooks。Thearrearsaresevenhundreddollars。\"
\"Fivehundreddollars，\"saidMr。Innescalmly。
Theyoungstersatthebacksnickered。
\"Gotoit！\"saidHarryHobbs，underhisbreath。
Eventheminister，whowassittingimmediatelybehindHarry，couldnotrestrainasmile。
\"Mr。Chairman，\"criedMr。Hayes，indignantly，\"Iappealagainstthisinterruption。Iassert——\"
\"Where’sthetreasurer？\"saidNeilFraser。\"What’stheuseofthischewin’therag？\"
\"Ah！Exactlyso，\"saidthechairman，greatlyrelieved。\"Mr。Boggs——
PerhapsMr。Boggswillenlightenus。\"
Mr。Boggsarosewithponderousdeliberation。
\"Mr。Chairman，\"hesaid，\"inonesenseMr。Hayesisrightwhenhestatesthearrearstobesevenhundreddollars——\"
\"FivehundreddollarsA’mtellin’ye，\"saidMr。Inneswiththefirstsignoffeelinghehadshown。
\"AndMr。Innesisalsoright，\"continuedMr。Boggs，ignoringtheinterruption，\"whenhemakesthearrearsfivehundreddollars，thetwohundreddollarsdifferencebeingthequarterlyrevenuenowdue。\"
\"Nextweek，\"saidMr。Innes，revertingtohiswontedcalm。
\"Exactlyso，\"saidthechairman，rubbinghishandsamiably；\"sothatthesevenhundreddollarswenowowe——\"
ThiswastoomuchevenfortheimperturbableMr。Innes。
Hearoseinhisplace，movedoutintotheaisle，advancedtowardtheplatform，andwitharmoutstretched，exclaimedinwrathfultones：
\"Mon，didyenohearmetellin’ye？Iwantnaemontomak’meale—ear。\"
AtthispointMr。StewartDuff，whohadcometoconveyhiswifehome，andhadgottiredwaitingforheroutside，enteredthechurch。
\"Oh，getonwiththebusiness，\"saidNeilFraser，who，althoughenjoyingthescene，wasbecominganxiousforhisdinner。\"Thequestionwhat’stobedonewiththefivehundreddollars’arrears。
Isay，let’smakeituprighthere。Iamwillingtogive——\"
\"No，Mr。Chairman，\"shoutedMr。Hayes，whowasnotoriouslyaversetopartingwithhismoney，andwasespeciallyfearfulofapublicsubscription。
\"Thereissomethingmorethanmerearrears——muchmore——\"
\"Ay，thereis，\"emphaticallydeclaredMr。McFettridge，risingstraightandstiff。\"I’mforplainspeakin’。Thefinancesisnottheworstaboutthiscongregation。Thecongregationhasfallenoff。Otherchurchesinthisvillagehasgoodcongregations。Whyshouldn’twe？Thetruthis，Mr。Chairman，\"——Mr。McFettridge’svoicerolleddeepandsonorousovertheaudience——\"wewantapopularpreacher——apreacherthatdraws——apreacherwithsomepep。\"
\"Hear！hear！\"criedMr。Boggs。\"Pep’swhatwewant。That’sit——
pep。\"
\"Pep，\"echoedthechairman。\"Exactlyso，pep。\"
\"Morethanthat，\"continuedMr。McFettridge，\"wewantaministerthat’sagoodmixer——onethatstandsinwiththeboys。\"
\"Hear！Hear！\"criedMr。Boggsagain。
\"Amixer！Exactly！\"agreedthechairman。\"Amixer！\"noddingpleasantlyatMr。Boggs。
\"AndanotherthingIwillsay，\"continuedMr。McFettridge，\"nowthatIamonmyfeet。Wewantapreacherthatwillsticktohisjob——thatwillpreachthegospelandnotgomeddlin’withothermatters——withpoliticsandsuchlike。\"
\"Orprohibition，\"shoutedHarryHobbsfromtherear，totheundilutedjoyoftheyoungstersinhisvicinity。
Theministershookhisheadathim。
\"Yes，prohibition，\"answeredMr。McFettridge，facingtowardtherearofthechurchdefiantly。\"Lethimsticktohispreachingthegospel；IbelievethetimehascomeforachangeandI’mpreparedtomakeamotionthatweaskourministertoresign，andthatmotionInowmake。\"
\"Secondthemotion，\"criedMr。Boggspromptly。
\"Youhaveheardthemotion，\"saidthechairman，withbusiness—likepromptitude。\"Areyoureadyforthequestion？\"
\"Question，\"saidMr。Hayes，afterafewmoments’silence，brokenbytheshufflingofsomemembersintheirseats，andbytheaudiblewhisperingofMrs。Innes，evidentlyexhortingherhusbandtoaction。
\"Thenallthoseinfavourofthemotionwillplease——\"
Thenfrombehindtheorganalittlevoicepipedup，\"Doesthismean，Mr。Chairman，thatweloseourminister？\"
ItwasMissQuigg，aladywhoseyearsnogallantrycouldsetbelowforty，forherappearanceindicatedthatshewaslongpastthebloomofheryouth。Shewasthin，almosttothepointoffrailness，withsharp，delicatelycutfeatures；butthelittlechinwasfirm，andaflashofthebrowneyesrevealedafierysoulwithin。MissQuiggwasthemillineranddressmakerofthevillage，andwasherselfawalkingmodelofherownexquisitetasteinclothesandhats。Itwasonlyherfailinghealththathaddrivenhertoabandonamuchlargerspherethanherpresentpositionoffered，butevenhereherfamewassuchastodrawtoherlittleshopcustomersfromthevillagesroundaboutformanymiles。
\"Doesthismean，sir，thatMr。Dunbarwillleaveus？\"sherepeated。
\"Well，——yes，madam——thatis，Miss，Isuppose，inaway——practicallyitwouldamounttothat。\"
\"Willyoutellmeyesorno，please，\"MissQuigg’sneatlittlefigurewasalla—quivertothetipsofherhatplumes。
\"Well，\"saidthechairman，squirmingundertheunpleasantexperienceofbeingforcedtoadefiniteanswer，\"Isuppose，——yes。\"
MissQuiggturnedfromthesquirmingandsmilingMr。Pilleyincontempt。
\"Then，\"shesaid，\"Isayno。AndIbelievetherearemanyherewhowouldsayno——andmen，too。\"Thewealthofindignationandcontemptuousscorninfusedintothewordbywhichthedifferenceinsexofthehumanspecieswasindicated，madethoseunhappyindividualsglanceshamefacedlyateachother——\"onlytheyaretootimid，thecreatures！ortooindifferent。\"
Againtherewasanexchangeoffurtiveglancesandsmilesandanuneasyshiftingofpositiononthepartof\"thecreatures。\"
\"Butifyougivethemtime，Mr。Chairman，Ibelievetheywillperhapsgetupcourageenoughtospeak。\"
MissQuiggsatdowninherplacebehindtheorgan，disappearingquitefromviewexceptforthetipsofherplumes，whoserapidandrhythmicvibrationswereeloquentofthebeatingofhergallantlittleheart。
\"Exactlyso，\"saidthechairman，inconfusedbutheartyacquiescence。
\"Perhapssomeonewillsaysomething。\"
ThenMr。Innes，forcedtoachangeofpositionbythephysicaldiscomfortcausedbyhiswife’sprodding，roseandsaid，\"Idinnaseetheneedo’anychange。Mr。Dunbarisnoagreatpreacher，butAhdoothedoeshisbest。Andthebairnsalllikehim。\"