The minister went up the stairs to the pulpit. He was still white and thin, but his eyes were bright and his voice clear. He gave out the opening hymn and the service began. They said it was the finest sermon ever preached in that church, and perhaps it was. When it was over, before the benediction was pronounced, Ellery stepped out from behind the pulpit to the edge of the platform. He looked over the friendly faces upturned to his and, for an instant, it seemed that he could not trust himself to speak. “My friends,” he said, “I cannot let you go without a personal word. I owe you so much, all of you, that nothing I can say will convey to you my feeling of gratitude and love for this congregation and this church. You have stood by me all through. You trusted me and believed in me. I came to Trumet a stranger. I have found here the truest friends a man could hope to find--yes, and more than friends. If I live, and while I live, I shall hope to prove by the best effort that is in me my realization of the great debt I owe you and my desire to repay it, even though the payment must, of necessity, be so inadequate. God bless you all--and thank you.” “Wa'n't it lovely!” gushed Didama. “And when he said that about true friends he was lookin' straight at Gracie all the time.” “Didn't seem to me so,” declared Gaius Winslow. “I thought he was lookin' at Cap'n Hammond.” “Well, now, that's queer,” put in Mrs. Parker, the doctor's wife. “I would have sworn he was looking at Keziah Coffin.” Captain Zebedee grinned. “I cal'late you're all right,” he observed. “I wouldn't wonder if he was lookin' at all of 'em.” There was much hand shaking and congratulation and the church emptied slowly. Among the last to leave were the Peppers and Mr. Pratt. Lavinia took the minister aside. “Mr. Ellery,” she simpered, “I've--that is, Caleb and me--will prob'ly want you to--That is, we want you to be the one--” “Yes, Miss Pepper?” “Oh, my sakes! you see--'Bishy dear, come here a minute, won't you?” Kyan approached, the picture of desolation. “What do you want?” he asked gruffly. “Heavens to Betsy! Don't look so sour. A body'd think you was goin' to be hung, to look at you. 'Bishy, you tell Mr. Ellery all about it, there's a dear. He'll tell you, Mr. Ellery; and remember we count on you. Neither me nor Caleb wont have nobody else.” She seized Mr. Pratt by the arm and led him hastily away. Kyan looked after them. “Hung?” he muttered. “I wish, by godfreys mighty, I had the hangin' of SOME folks! I'd put a tighter collar on 'em than they've got now, I bet you!” The minister's lips twitched. He knew what was coming. Hints of a surprising nature had been circulating about Trumet. “What's the matter, Mr. Pepper?” he asked. “Matter? Matter enough! You know what she's goin' to do? She's goin' to marry THAT!” The last word was emphasized by a furious gesticulation toward the back of the gentleman from Sandwich.