Still, he was invariably
standing by to see it flung. and to hand Mr Finlay his
hat and stick. He was surprised and put about to find
himself one Sunday evening too late for this attendance.
The vestry was empty, the gown was on the floor. Peter
gathered it up with as perturbed an air as if Mr Finlay
had omitted a point of church observance. "I doubt they
get into slack ways in these missions," said Peter. He
had been unable, with Dr Drummond, to see the necessity
for such extensions.
Meanwhile Hugh Finlay, in secular attire, had left the
church by the vestry door, and was rapidly overtaking
groups of his hearers as they walked homeward. He was
unusually aware of his change of dress because of a letter
in the inside pocket of his coat. The letter, in that
intimate place, spread a region of consciousness round
it which hastened his blood and his step. There was
purpose in his whole bearing; Advena Murchison, looking
back at some suggestion of Lorne's, caught it, and lost
for a moment the meaning of what she said. When he overtook
them, with plain intention, she walked beside the two
men, withdrawn and silent, like a child. It was unexpected
and overwhelming, his joining them after the service,
accompanying them, as it were, in the flesh after having
led them so far in the spirit; he had never done it
before.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220