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。"