"The debate, doubtless," began Mr Lyon; but his further speech was drowned by a general rising of the Church people from their seats, many of them feeling that, even if the cause were lamentable, the adjournment was not altogether disagreeable.
"Good gracious me!" said Mrs Tiliot, as she took her husband's arm, "I hope the poor young man hasn't fallen into the river or broken his leg."
But some of the more acrid Dissenters, whose temper was not controlled by the habits of retail business, had begun to hiss, implying that in their interpretation the Curate's absence had not depended on any injury to life or limb.
"He's turned tail, sure enough," said Mr Muscat to the neighbour behind him, lifting his eyebrows and shoulders, and laughing in a way that showed that, deacon as he was, he looked at the affair in an entirely secular light.
But Mrs Muscat thought it would be nothing but right to have all the waters dragged, agreeing in this with the majority of the Church ladies.
"I regret sincerely, Mr Lyon," said Philip Debarry, addressing the minister with politeness, "that I must say good-morning to you, with the
