The sun had got low, in fact, he was dipping behind the dark line of Eagle Hill; and everybody looked and watched. The bright ball of fiery gold disappeared, leaving a trail of glory; lights glowed against shadows on the hazy hill shore; little flecks of cloud in the west grew gorgeous, and a low-lying rack of vapour in the south-east took on the loveliest changes of warm browns and purples and greys. And as the sun got further below the horizon, the cloud scenery became but the more resplendent. "Mr. Murray," Flora began, "you will think I am always taking objections." "Well, Miss Flora--what now?" "Please to criticise this story Ditto has been reading. I would rather you did it than I." "By 'criticise' you mean, find fault?" "If you see reason." "Suppose I do not see reason?" "But do you not, really?" "Wherein?" "Mr. Murray, I like things kept to their proper places." "We are agreed there." "And I think it is a pity to make religious observances, or what are meant for them, repelling and disgusting to other people." "Certainly. As how, for instance, Miss Flora?" "Well, I never like to see people--I _have_ seen it--make a show of praying at table, where no general blessing has been asked by the person at the head of the table or a minister. It just makes them conspicuous, and as good as says that they are the only right people there." "That is not a pleasant impression to receive." "No, and I did not receive it. I thought it was a mistake. And quite ill-bred." "But perhaps those people felt that they wanted a particular blessing, where there was no general blessing asked as you say." "They might ask for it quietly, secretly." "Yes. Would they get it?" "Why, Mr. Murray! Doesn't the Lord always hear prayer?" "No. It is written--'He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.'" "But what law is there about saying grace at meals, in public?" "There is this, Miss Flora. 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess'"---- "But everywhere, Mr. Murray? Must we be confessing _everywhere_?" "What places would you make the exception?" Flora was silent. "Public places in general?" Still Flora was silent. "Allow me to ask--Do you approve of the custom anywhere of asking a blessing upon our meat?" "Certainly--in one's own house. Papa did it always. Meredith does it." "Then, Miss Flora, if it is a right thing to do at home, how is it not a right thing to do abroad?" "Everywhere, Mr. Murray? Would you do it in a restaurant?" "If it is a right thing to do, Miss Flora?--why not in a restaurant?" "Or in somebody else's house perhaps, where it is not the custom?" "Why not?" "Why it seems to me like a sort of preaching to people; like saying to them that you are better than they are; setting one's self up." "Pardon me--how can it be setting myself up, to thank my Father in heaven for what He has given me, and to ask Him to let me have also a blessing with it?"