Then he told his dream, to which Euphra listened with an interest
uninjured by the grotesqueness of its fancy. Each interpreted the other’s
with reverence.
They ceased talking; and sat silent for a while. Then Harry, putting his
arms round Euphra’s neck, and his lips close to her ear, whispered:
“Perhaps God will say my darling to you some day, Euphra; just as your
mother did in your dream.”
She was silent. Harry looked round into her face, and saw that the tears
were flowing fast.
At that instant, a gentle knock came to the door. Euphra could not reply
to it. It was repeated. After another moment’s delay, the door opened, and
Margaret walked in.
CHAPTER XII. A SUNDAY WITH FALCONER.
How happy is he born and taught,
That serveth not another’s will;
Whose armour is his honest thought,
And simple truth his utmost skill.
This man is freed from servile bands
Of hope to rise or fear to fall:
Lord of himself, though not of lands,
And, having nothing, yet hath all.
SIR HENRY WOTTON.
It was not often that Falconer went to church; but he seemed to have some
design in going oftener than usual at present. The Sunday after the one
last mentioned, he went as well, though not to the same church, and
calling for Hugh took him with him. What they found there, and the
conversation following thereupon, I will try to relate, because, although
they do not immediately affect my outward story, they greatly influenced
Hugh’s real history.
They heard the Morning Service and the Litany read in an ordinary manner,
though somewhat more devoutly than usual. Then, from the communion-table,
rose a voice vibrating with solemn emotion, like the voice of Abraham
pleading for Sodom. It thrilled through Hugh’s heart. The sermon which
followed affected him no less, although, when he came out, he confessed to
Falconer that he had only caught flying glimpses of its meaning, scope,
and drift.
“I seldom go to church,” said Falconer; “but when I do, I come here: and
always feel that I am in the presence of one of the holy servants of God’s
great temple not made with hands. I heartily trust that man. He is what he
seems to be.”
“They say he is awfully heterodox.”
“They do.”
“How then can he remain in the church, if he is as honest as you say?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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