an operation."

"And then, most like, he'd have gone off with the others to be fed at
the country's expense and no housekeeping to worry him, instead of
giving Mr Pamphlett trouble. For he has been giving Mr Pamphlett
trouble. Three times this past week I've seen him call at the Bank,
and if you tell me 'twas to put money on deposit--"

"If builder Gilbert is right," put in Miss Oliver with a sigh of
envy, "I shall be able to see the Bank as well as you, when that
house comes down: and I shan't want to use spectacles neither."
She cut in with this stroke as the pair joined the small throng of
worshippers entering the Chapel porch. Also she took care to speak
the last seven words (as Queen Elizabeth danced) "high and
disposedly," giving her friend no time for a _riposte_.

The Minister, Mr Hambly, gave his congregation a very short service
that morning. He opened with three sentences from the Book of Common
Prayer: "Rend your heart, and not your garments. . . . Enter not into
judgement with thy servant, O Lord. . . . If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

Then, after a little pause, he gave out the hymn that begins "On
earth we now lament to see." . . . It had not been sung within those
walls in the oldest folks' remembrance--nay, since the Chapel had
been built; and many were surprised to find it in the book. But at
the second verse they picked up the tune and sang it with a will:--

"As 'listed on Abaddon's side,
They mangle their own flesh and slay,
Tophet is moved and opens wide
Its mouth for its enormous prey;
And myriads sink beneath the grave
And plunge into the flaming wave."

"O might the universal Friend
This havoc of his creatures see!" . . .

They sang it lustily to the end. With a gesture of the hand Mr
Hambly bade all to kneel, opened the Book of Common Prayer again, and
instead of "putting up" an _extempore_ prayer, recited that old one
prescribed for use "_In the Time of War and Tumults_":--

"O Almighty God, King of all kings, and Governour of all things,
whose power no creature is able to resist, . . . Save and
deliver us, we humbly beseech thee, from the hands of our
enemies; abate their pride, asswage their malice, and confound
their devices; that we, being armed with thy defence, may be
preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify thee, who art