"'Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy
ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires
of our own hearts'"--

Thus far the rector's voice had led, but here it sank, and the old
General's, in a measure, took its place.

Then it rose again, in the confession, "There is no health in us," and
in the supplication, "Have mercy upon us, miserable offenders."

There once more it failed, while the people, faltering with distress,
repeated, "That we may hereafter lead a godly, righteous, and sober
life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen."

At this the farmer with the spectacled daughter stepped nimbly over the
rail and caught Arthur as he rose and staggered. Leonard was hurrying
forward, and half the people kneeling, half standing, when Mrs. Morris
vacantly stopped his way with a face so aghast and words so confused
that he had to give her over to Ruth. Then he hastened on to where
Arthur was being led into the vestry by his physician and others.

But now he was turned back by the doctor, requesting him to dismiss the
congregation; which he did, with the physician's assurance that the
trouble was no more than vertigo, and that Arthur was even now quite
able to proceed home in the farmer vestryman's rockaway. The people
noticed that the physician went with him.

Mrs. Morris followed on foot with the farmer's daughter, and with Ruth
and the General, and Leonard went into town to telegraph Isabel, in her