Women of the Country by Gertrude Bone
page 88 of 106 (83%)
page 88 of 106 (83%)
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"A very good meeting," said the steward, looking round with an air of satisfaction. "You've made me feel very small, sir," said a young man to the evangelist. "I've a good deal further to go yet." "It's true of us all," replied the evangelist, shaking his hand fervently. Anne Hilton had returned from the farmer to whom she had sold one of her pigs, and fed the animals, but had not taken off the linen pocket which she tied round her waist under her petticoat, and which held her money. She was trying to get at it now in the narrow pew. She knocked down a hymn-book and several pennies rolled under the feet of the out-going congregation. A young woman, with roses in her best hat, nudged another and laughed. A big boy stooped to pick up two, and restored them with a purple face. Anne replaced them in the linen pocket, shook her skirt down again, wrapped something in a piece of an old envelope, and beckoning the steward gave it to him, then followed the others through the blue square of the doorway. The steward approached the evangelist with a rather embarrassed smile. "Our good sister's a bit queer," he said. "I don't know why she couldn't put it in the collection box." The evangelist unwrapped the envelope and disclosed a sovereign. He paused. "It's a big gift for a poor woman," he said in a moment. "She needed to |
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