"I intend to be
a chief contributor to it myself." But his joking words and careless
manner jarred at that moment upon the spirit both of Arthur and
Constance Channing.
Why? Could there have been any unconscious foreshadowing of evil to
come?
CHAPTER XVII.
SUNDAY MORNING AT MR. CHANNING'S, AND AT LADY AUGUSTA'S.
The day of rest came round in due course. A day of rest it is in truth
to those who have learnt to make it such; a pleasant time of peace; a
privileged season of commune with God; a loving day of social happiness
for home and home ties. And yet, strange to say, it is, to some, the
most hurried, uncomfortable, disagreeable day of all the seven.
Mrs. Channing's breakfast hour was nine o'clock on ordinary days, made
thus late for the sake of convenience. On Sundays it was half-past
eight. Discipline and training had rendered it easy to observe rules at
Mr. Channing's; or, it may be better to say, it had rendered them
difficult to be disobeyed. At half-past eight all were in the
breakfast-room, dressed for the day. When the hour for divine service
arrived, they had only to put on their hats and bonnets to be ready for
it. Even old Judy was grand on a Sunday morning. Her mob-cap was of
spotted, instead of plain net, and her check apron was replaced by a
white one.
With great personal inconvenience, and some pain--for he was always
worse in the morning--Mr. Channing would on that day rise to breakfast.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208