'I saw you steal a glance at Charles when he came into the church here,
and it strikes me I was at the moment thinking of the same thing as you,
to wit, will he require any special service at our hands? Well, he does!
and you or I must do it. He'll give a thousand pounds, mind ye; and
that's something in the way of fellows like you and me; and whatever
else he may have done, Charles has never broke his word in a money
matter. And, hark'ee, can't you thumb over that Bible and Prayer-book on
the table here as well as _there? Do_ so. Well--'
And he went on in a lower key, still looking full front at the
church-door, and a quick glance now and then upon Irons, across the
communion-table.
''Tis nothing at all--don't you see--what are you afraid of? It can't
change events--'tis only a question of to-day or to-morrow--a whim--a
maggot--hey? You can manage it this way, mark ye.'
He had his pocket-handkerchief by the two corners before him, like an
apron, and he folded it neatly and quickly into four.
'Don't you see--and a little water. You're a neat hand, you know; and if
you're interrupted, 'tis only to blow your nose in't--ha, ha, ha!--and
clap it in your pocket; and _you_ may as well have the money--hey?
Good-morning.
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