the chairman, squirming under the unpleasant experience of
being forced to a definite answer, "I suppose,--yes."

Miss Quigg turned from the squirming and smiling Mr. Pilley in contempt.

"Then," she said, "I say no. And I believe there are many here who would
say no--and men, too." The wealth of indignation and contemptuous
scorn infused into the word by which the difference in sex of the
human species was indicated, made those unhappy individuals glance
shamefacedly at each other--"only they are too timid, the creatures! or
too indifferent."

Again there was an exchange of furtive glances and smiles and an uneasy
shifting of position on the part of "the creatures."

"But if you give them time, Mr. Chairman, I believe they will perhaps
get up courage enough to speak."

Miss Quigg sat down in her place behind the organ, disappearing quite
from view except for the tips of her plumes, whose rapid and rhythmic
vibrations were eloquent of the beating of her gallant little heart.

"Exactly so," said the chairman, in confused but hearty acquiescence.
"Perhaps some one will say something."

Then Mr. Innes, forced to a change of position by the physical
discomfort caused by his wife's prodding, rose and said,

"I dinna see the need o' any change. Mr. Dunbar is no a great preacher,
but Ah doot he does his best. And the bairns all like him."

Then the congregation had a thrill. In the back seat rose Harry Hobbs.

"I'm near forty years old," he cried, in a high nasal tone that
indicated a state of extreme nervous tension, "and I never spoke in
meetin' before. I ain't had no use for churches and preachers, and I
guess they hadn't no use for me. You folks all know me. I've been in
this burg for near eight years, and I was a drinkin', swearin', fightin'
cuss. This preacher came into the barn one day when I was freezin' to
death after a big spree. He tuk me home with him and kep' me there
for two weeks, settin' up nights with me, too. Let me be," he said
impatiently to Barry, who was trying to pull him down to his seat. "I'm
agoin' to speak this time if it kills me. Many a time I done him dirt
sence then, but he stuck to me, and never quit till he got me turned
'round. I was goin' straight to hell; he says I'm goin' to heaven now."
Here he laughed with a touch of scorn. "I dunno. But, by gum! if you
fire him and do him dirt, I don't know what'll become of me, but I guess
I'll go straight to hell again."

"No, Harry, no you