"
"And ra-a-ther irreverently--don't you think--excuse me, sir?"
said Mrs Marshal very softly. But the very softness had a kind of
jellyfish sting in it.
"I think," rejoined the schoolmaster, indirectly replying, "we
must be. careful to show our reverence in a manner pleasing to our
Lord. Now I cannot discover that he cares for any reverences but
the shaping of our ways after his; and if you will show me a single
instance of respect of persons in our Lord, I will press my petition
no farther to be allowed to speak a word to your pew openers,
washerwoman, and greengrocer."
His entertainers were silent--the gentleman in the consciousness
of deserved rebuke, the lady in offence.
Just then the latter bethought herself that their guest, belonging
to the Scotch Church, was, if no Episcopalian, yet no dissenter,
and that seemed to clear up to her the spirit of his disapproval.
"By all means, Mr Marshal," she said, "let your friend speak on
the Wednesday evening. It would not be to his advantage to have it
said that he occupied a dissenting pulpit. It will not be nearly
such an exertion either; and if he is unaccustomed to speak to
large congregations, he will find himself more comfortable with
our usual week evening one."
"I have never attempted to speak in public but once," rejoined Mr
Graham, "and then I failed.
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