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Chapter Eight
With that urgency with which religious old a,e invests such matters,
Martha still endeavoured to make the younger Members of the household
return to church, hamilton had continued to go for a few Sabbaths
after his father’s death* .then one Sabbath morning he had gone out into
the fields and from thence his attendance became more desultory, until
now he and Frank contented themselves with driviing Martha to the church
and returning for her after the service. As time passed they'did not
even trouble to dress or shave themselves for those journeys.
On the homeward way the churchgoers would watch the Echlin trap
pass, and pull down their mouths and say "changed times at Rathard since
ould Andra died," and others would maliciously add "or since the Gomartins
went up.” But most of her neighbours sympathised with Martha.
These whispers and glances did not escape the notice of the old
woman, but the final humiliation was delivered by the Revenant Mr.
Sorleyson. One Sunday morning as she left the church, he drew her aside
and asked her, kindly enough, to prevail on the Echlins to come back to
the congregation, "Aye, and my Sarah?" "Of course,’ exclaimed Mr
Sorleyson after the faintest pause, "Sarah, as well.” But the
momentary hesitation in Sorleyson’s voice went to the mother’s heart
like a knife.
When he left her she stood in the shelter of the hedge endeavouring
to still the trembling In her legs, A dull burning pulsed i$ her cheeks
and as she looked after the departing minister bitter tears flooded her
eyes, "Ah, Mr Sorleyson" she whispered "could yo no leave the ninety
and nine anti go after that which is lost until ye find it! Sarah,
