But at this point there was a sudden commotion from the opposite side of
the room. A quaint dwarfish figure, crippled but full of vigour, stumped
up to the platform.

"My son," he said, grandly waving the Rector to one side, "allow me, my
son. You have done well. Now I shall deal with this gentleman."

The owner of the misshapen body had a noble head, a face marked with
intellectual quality, but the glitter in the large blue eye told the
same tale of mental anarchy. Startled and astonished, the evangelist
backed away from the extraordinary creature that continued to advance
upon him.

"Sir," cried the dwarf, "by what right do you proclaim the divine
message to your fellowmen? Have you known the cross, have you felt the
piercing crown, do you bear upon your body the mark of the spear?" At
this with a swift upward hitch of his shirt the dwarf exposed his bare
side. The evangelist continued to back away from his new assailant, who
continued vigorously to follow him up. The youngsters in the crowd broke
into laughter. The scene passed swiftly from tragedy to farce. At this
point the Rector interposed.

"Come, come, John," he said, laying a firm, but gentle, hand upon the
dwarf's shoulder. "That will do now. He is perfectly harmless, sir," he
said, addressing the evangelist. Then turning to the audience, "I think
we may dismiss this meeting," and, raising his hands, he pronounced the
benediction, and the people dispersed in disorder.

With a strained "Good-night, sir," to the evangelist and a courteous bow