mortal before him, on the discrepancies of evidence. What was a
Hamadryad? and why no mention of Easter Eve? and what had it all to
do with the witch and Parson Maine and 'Lias's excitement?

Meanwhile, the thump made by the big family Bible as Hannah
deposited it on the table warned both him and the truant outside
that prayer-time had come. Louie came in noisily when she was
called, and both children lounged unwillingly into their appointed
seats.

Nothing but the impatience and indifference of childhood, however,
could have grudged Reuben Grieve the half-hour which followed.
During that one half-hour in the day, the mild, effaced man, whose
absent-minded ways and complete lack of business faculty were the
perpetual torment of his wife, was master of his house. While he
was rolling out the psalm, expounding the chapter, or 'wrestling'
in prayer, he was a personality and an influence even for the wife
who, in spite of a dumb congruity of habit, regarded him generally
as incompetent and in the way. Reuben's religious sense was strong
and deep, but some very natural and pathetically human instincts
entered also into his constant pleasure in this daily function.
Hannah, with her strong and harsh features settled into repose,
with her large hands, reddened by the day's work, lying idle in her
lap, sat opposite to him in silence; for once she listened to him,
whereas all day he had listened to her; and the moment made a daily
oasis in the life of a man who, in his own dull, peasant way, knew
that he was a failure, and knew also that no one was so well aware
of it as his wife.

With David and Louie the absorbing interest was generally to see