“With the words of truth left sticking on the walls?” suggested Mr. Drake.

“Ha! ha! ha!—­Good that!” exclaimed several.

But the pastor’s face looked stern, and the voices dropped into rebuked silence.

“At least you’ll allow, sir,” persisted Barwood, “that the house of God ought to be as good as the houses of his people.  It stands to reason.  Depend upon it, He won’t give us no success till we give Him a decent house.  What! are we to dwell in houses of cedar, and the ark of the Lord in a tent?  That’s what it comes to, sir!”

The pastor’s spiritual gorge rose at this paganism in Jew clothing.

“You think God loves newness and finery better than the old walls where generations have worshiped?” he said.

“I make no doubt of it, sir,” answered Barwood.  “What’s generations to him!  He wants the people drawn to His house; and what there is in Cow-lane to draw is more than I know.”

“I understand you wish to sell the chapel,” said Mr. Drake.  “Is it not rather imprudent to bring down the value of your property before you have got rid of it?”

Barwood smiled a superior smile.  He considered the bargain safe, and thought the purchaser a man who was certain to pull the chapel down.

“I know who the intending purchaser is,” said Mr. Drake, “and——­”

Barwood’s countenance changed:  he bethought himself that the conveyance was not completed, and half started from his chair.

“You would never go to do such an unneighborly act,” he cried, “as——­”

“—­As conspire to bring down the value of a property the moment it had passed out of my hands?—­I would not, Mr. Barwood; and this very day the intending purchaser shall know of your project.”

Barwood locked his teeth together, and grinned with rage.  He jumped from his seat, knocked it over in getting his hat from under it, and rushed out of the house.  Mr. Drake smiled, and looking calmly round on the rest of the deacons, held his peace.  It was a very awkward moment for them.  At length one of them, a small tradesman, ventured to speak.  He dared make no allusion to the catastrophe that had occurred.  It would take much reflection to get hold of the true weight and bearing of what they had just heard and seen, for Barwood was a mighty man among them.

“What we were thinking, sir,” he said, “—­and you will please to remember, Mr. Drake, that I was always on your side, and it’s better to come to the point; there’s a strong party of us in the church, sir, that would like to have you back, and we was thinking if you would condescend to help us, now as you’re so well able to, sir, toward a new chapel, now as you have the means, as well as the will, to do God service, sir, what with the chapel-building society, and every man-jack of us setting our shoulder to the wheel, and we should all do our very best, we should get a nice, new, I won’t say showy, but attractive—­that’s