Mr. Eversley had so far altered the practice of his parishioners at the quarterly celebrations of the Sacrament, but the collection of the offertory still remained as it had been when he came to Kestercham. The amount collected was a matter of keen parochial interest. Mr. Seaford and another farmer were deputed to collect it from the communicants; it was taken by them to Mr. Eversley, and by him placed on the holy table. He then proceeded with the Communion. But such was always the excitement of Mr. Seaford and his colleague that they could not remain in their pews to the conclusion of the office; but when they had themselves communicated, they took up their positions, standing, the one on the north, the other on the south side of the chancel, just without the altar-rails, and, as soon as Mr. Eversley had pronounced the Benediction and even before he had risen from his knees, they darted within the rails, emptied out the alms upon the table and counted them over amidst eager and audible comments. Great was the delight if a gold coin, or large silver coin, appeared in the offertory--a delight so emphatically expressed that it arrested the attention, and gratified the expectation, of the spectators in the porch. But the service, peculiar as no doubt it was (though no one in Kestercham was aware of its peculiarities), was redeemed by the grave and reverent solemnity of Mr. Eversley’s own demeanour. Even casual and careless worshippers were awed by the tone of his voice as he spoke the words, ‘The body of the Lord Jesus Christ which was given for thee.... The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for thee ... preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.’ It was not only that the Body and Blood were so sacred in his eyes. It was that the Everlasting Life was so real, so tremendous. The first Sacrament of the year was a great event in Kestercham parish. Mr. Eversley would exhort, nay, entreat his people to partake of it. It was a virtual consecration of the year to God. A person who had been ‘converted’ during the year (if such there were) would probably make his first communion then. What a joy it was to Mr. Eversley if one who had long been walking in sin were seen slowly and timidly moving up the church to the Lord’s Table on that Sunday! All the regular communicants were always present. It wanted some ten minutes to eleven o’clock when Mr. Eversley, coming out of his study arrayed for church on that Sunday, called ‘Gerald.’ He always called him in this way, and they walked to the church together. No answer came. He called again, ‘Gerald, Gerald.’ Still no answer. It was clear that Gerald was not in the house. It was just possible that he had gone on ahead with Mrs. Eversley or one of his sisters. He did so on rare occasions, but not without giving his father notice. Mr. Eversley had just time to open the kitchen door and say to the cook: ‘Jane, have you seen Mr. Gerald start for church this morning?’