ge be hollered
out next Sunday marnin', then us'll knaw who 'm gwaine to marry Mother
Coomstock an' who ban't. I can work out my awn salvation wi' fear an'
tremblin' so well as any other man; an' you'll see what that
God-forsaken auld piece looks like come Sunday when he hears what's done
an' caan't do nought but just swallow his gall an' chew 'pon it."

CHAPTER VIII

MR. BLEE FORGETS HIMSELF

The Rev. James Shorto-Champernowne made no difficulty about Billy's
banns of marriage, although he doubtless held a private opinion upon the
wisdom of such a step, and also knew that Mrs. Coomstock was now a very
different woman from the sextoness of former days. He expressed a hope,
however, that Mr. Blee would make his future wife become a regular
church-goer again after the ceremony; and Billy took it upon himself to
promise as much for her. There the matter ended until the following
Sunday, when a sensation, unparalleled in the archives of St. Michael's,
awaited the morning worshippers.

Under chiming of bells the customary congregation arrived, and a
perceptible wave of sensation swept from pew to pew at the appearance of
more than one unfamiliar face. Of regular attendants we may note Mrs.
Blanchard and Chris, Martin Grimbal, Mr. Lyddon, and his daughter. Mr.
Blee usually sat towards the back of the church at a point immediately
behind those benches devoted to the boys. Here he kept perfect order
among the lads, and had done so for many years. Occasionally it became
necessary to turn a youngster out of church, and Billy's procedure at
such a time was masterly; but of opinion to-day that he was a public
character, he chose a more conspicuous position, and accepted Mr.
Lyddon's invitation to take a seat in the miller's own pew. He felt he
owed this prominence, not only to himself, but to Mrs. Coomstock. She,
good soul, had been somewhat evasive and indefinite in her manner since
accepting Billy, and her condition of nerves on Sunday morning proved
such that she found herself quite unable to attend the house of prayer,
although she had promised to do so. She sent her two servants, however,
and, spending the time in private between spirtual and spirituous
consolations of Bible and bottle, the widow soon passed into a temporary
exaltation ending in unconsciousness. Thus her maids found her on
returning from church.

Excitement within the holy edifice reached fever-heat when a most
unwonted worshipper appeared in the