It seems to me as if they knowed
it so well they thought as how there was no need for them to mind
it."
"You don't mean that Mr Graham has given up preaching here?"
"They've given up askin' of 'im to preach, lady. But if ever there
was a good man in that pulpit, Mr Graham he do be that man!"
"Do you know where he lives?"
"Yes, ma'am; but it would be hard to direct you." Here she looked
in at the door of the chapel with a curious half frightened glance,
as if to satisfy herself that the inner door was closed. "But,"
she went on, "they won't miss me now the service is begun, and I
can be back before it's over. I'll show you where, ma'am."
"I should be greatly obliged to you," said Clementina, "only I am
sorry to give you the trouble."
"To tell the truth, I'm only too glad to get away," she returned,
"for the place it do look like a cementery, now he's out of it."
"Was he so kind to you?"
"He never spoke word to me, as to myself like, no, nor never gave
me sixpence, like Mr Masquar do; but he give me strength in my
heart to bear up, and that's better than meat or money."
It was a good half hour's walk, and during it Clementina held what
conversation she might with her companion. It was not much the
woman had to say of a general sort. She knew little beyond her
own troubles and the help that met them, but what else are the two
main forces whose composition results in upward motion? Her world
was very limited--the houses in which she went charing, the chapel
she swept and dusted, the neighbours with whom she gossipped, the
little shops where she bought the barest needs of her bare life;
but it was at least large enough to leave behind her; and if she
was not one to take the kingdom of heaven by force, she was yet
one to creep quietly into it.
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