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you wouldn't turn me into the street because I am steady and nothing
more； would you？〃
〃I said I was sorry； Mr。 Sutherland。 Do you wish me to say more？〃
〃Bless your kind heart！〃 said Hugh。 〃I was only joking。〃
He held out his hand to Miss Talbot； and her eyes glistened as she
took it。 She pressed it kindly； and abandoned it instantly。
So all was right between them once more。
〃Who knows；〃 murmured Miss Talbot； 〃but the Lord may save him？ He's
surely not far from the kingdom of heaven。 I'll do all I can to
make him comfortable。〃
CHAPTER VI。
A SUNDAY'S DINNER。
Some books are lies frae end to end；
And some great lies were never penned：
Even ministers； they hae been kenned；
In holy rapture；
Great lies and nonsense baith to vend；
And nail't wi' Scripture。
BURNS。
To the great discomposure of Hugh； Sunday was inevitable； and he had
to set out for Salem Chapel。 He found it a neat little Noah's Ark
of a place； built in the shape of a cathedral； and consequently
sharing in the general disadvantages to which dwarfs of all kinds
are subjected； absurdity included。 He was shown to Mr。 Appleditch's
pew。 That worthy man received him in sleek black clothes； with
white neck…cloth； and Sunday face composed of an absurd mixture of
stupidity and sanctity。 He stood up； and Mrs。 Appleditch stood up；
and Master Appleditch stood up； and Hugh saw that the ceremony of
the place required that he should force his way between the front of
the pew and the person of each of the human beings occupying it；
till he reached the top； where there was room for him to sit down。
No other recognition was taken till after service。
Meantime the minister ascended the pulpit stair； with all the
solemnity of one of the self…elect； and a priest besides。 He was
just old enough for the intermittent attacks of self…importance to
which all youth is exposed； to have in his case become chronic。 He
stood up and worshipped his creator aloud； after a manner which
seemed to say in every tone： 〃Behold I am he that worshippeth Thee！
How mighty art Thou！〃 Then he read the Bible in a quarrelsome sort
of way； as if he were a bantam； and every verse were a crow of
defiance to the sinner。 Then they sang a hymn in a fashion which
brought dear old Scotland to Hugh's mind； which has the sweetest
songs in its cottages； and the worst singing in its churches； of any
country in the world。 But it was almost equalled here； the chief
cause of its badness being the absence of a modest self…restraint；
and consequent tempering of the tones； on the part of the singers；
so that the result was what Hugh could describe only as scraichin。1
I was once present at the worship of some being who is supposed by
negroes to love drums and cymbals； and all clangorous noises。 The
resemblance； according to Hugh's description； could not have been a
very distant one。 And yet I doubt not that some thoughts of
worshipping love mingled with the noise； and perhaps the harmony of
these with the spheric melodies； sounded the sweeter to the angels；
from the earthly discord in which they were lapped。
Then came the sermon。 The text was the story of the good Samaritan。
Some idea； if not of the sermon； yet of the value of it； may be
formed from the fact； that the first thing to be considered； or； in
other words； the first head was； 〃The culpable imprudence of the man
in going from Jerusalem to Jericho without an escort。〃
It was in truth a strange； grotesque； and somewhat awful medleynot
unlike a dance of death； in which the painter has given here a
lovely face； and there a beautiful arm or an exquisite foot； to the
wild…prancing and exultant skeletons。 But the parts of the sermon
corresponding to the beautiful face or arm or foot； were but the
fragments of Scripture； shining like gold amidst the worthless ore
of the man's own productionworthless； save as gravel or chaff or
husks have worth； in a world where dilution； and not always
concentration； is necessary for healthfulness。
But there are Indians who eat clay； and thrive on it more or less； I
suppose。 The power of assimilation which a growing nature must
possess is astonishing。 It will find its food； its real Sunday
dinner； in the midst of a whole cartload of refuse； and it will do
the whole week's work on it。 On no other supposition would it be
possible to account for the earnest face of Miss Talbot； which Hugh
espied turned up to the preacher； as if his face were the very star
in the east； shining to guide the chosen kings。 It was well for
Hugh's power of endurance； that he had heard much the same thing in
Scotland； and the same thing better dressed； and less grotesque； but
more lifeless； and at heart as ill…mannered； in the church of
Arnstead。
Just before concluding the service； the pastor made an announcement
in the following terms： 〃After the close of the present service； I
shall be found in the adjoining vestry by all persons desirous of
communicating with me on the state of their souls； or of being
admitted to the privileges of church…fellowship。 Brethren； we have
this treasure in earthen vessels； and so long as this vessel
lasts〃here he struck his chest so that it resounded〃it shall be
faithfully and liberally dispensed。 Let us pray。〃
After the prayer； he spread abroad his arms and hands as if he would
clasp the world in his embrace； and pronounced the benediction in a
style of arrogance that the pope himself would have been ashamed of。
The service being thus concluded； the organ absolutely blasted the
congregation out of the chapel； so did it storm and rave with a
fervour anything but divine。
My readers must not suppose that I give this chapel as the type of
orthodox dissenting chapels。 I give it only as an approximate
specimen of a large class of them。 The religious life which these
communities once possessed； still lingers in those of many country
districts and small towns； but is； I fear； all but gone from those
of the cities and larger towns。 What of it remains in these； has
its chief manifestation in the fungous growth of such chapels as the
one I have described； the congregations themselves taking this for a
sure indication of the prosperity of the body。 How much even of the
kind of prosperity which they ought to indicate； is in reality at
the foundation of these appearances； I would recommend those to
judge who are versed in the mysteries of chapel…building societies。
As to Hugh； whether it was that the whole was suggestive of Egyptian
bondage； or that his own mood was； at the time； of the least
comfortable sort； I will not pretend to determine； but he assured me
that he felt all the time； as if； instead of being in a chapel built
of bricks harmoniously arranged； as by the lyre of Amphion； he were
wandering in the waste； wretched field whence these bricks had been
dug； of all places on the earth's surface the most miserable；
assailed by the nauseous odours； which have not character enough to
be described； and only remind one of the colours on a snake's back。
When they reached the open air； Mr。 Appleditch introduced Hugh to
Mrs。 Appleditch； on the steps in front of the chapel。
〃This is Mr。 Sutherland； Mrs。 Appleditch。〃
Hugh lifted his hat； and Mrs。 Appleditch made a courtesy。 She was a
very tall womana head beyond her husband； extremely thin； with
sharp nose； hollow cheeks； and good eyes。 In fact； she was partly
pretty； and might have been pleasant…looking； but for a large；
thin…lipped； vampire…like mouth； and a general expression of greed
and contempt。 She was meant for a lady； and had made herself a
money…maggot。 She was richly and plainly dressed； and until she
began to be at her ease； might have passed for an unpleasant lady。
Master Appleditch； the future pastor； was a fat boy； dressed like a
dwarf； in a frock coat and man's hat； with a face in which the
meanness and keenness strove for mastery； and between them kept down
the appearance of stupidity consequent on fatness。 They walked home
in silence； Mr。 and Mrs。 Appleditch apparently pondering either upon
the spiritual food they had just received； or the corporeal food for
which they were about to be thankful。
Their house was one of many in a crescent。 Not content with his
sign in town； the grocer had a large brass plate on his door； with
Appleditch engraved upon it in capitals： it saved them always
looking at the numbers。 The boy ran on before； and assailed this
door with a succession of explosive knocks。
As soon as it was opened； in he rushed； bawling：
〃Peter； Peter； here's the new apprentice！ Papa's brought him home
to dinner； because he was at chapel this morning。〃 Then in a lower
tone〃I mean to have a ride on his back this afternoon。〃
The father and mother laughed。 A solemn priggish little voice
answered：
〃Oh； no； Johnny。 Don't you know what day this is？ This is the
Sabbath…day。〃
〃The dear boy！〃 sighed his mother。
〃That boy is too good to live；〃 responded the father。
Hugh was shown into the dining…room； where the table was already
laid for dinner。 It was evident that the Appleditches were
well…to…do people。 The room was full of what is called handsome