Benches with backs (A, B, C, D) were placed about half-way down both nave and aisles—­those in the nave being divided so as to allow a free passage between them.  The rest of the temple was open space, about which people might walk at their will.  There were side doors (e, j, and f, h) at the upper and lower end of each aisle.  Over the main entrance was a gallery in which singers were placed.

As my father was worming his way among the crowd, which was now very dense, he was startled at finding himself tapped lightly on the shoulder, and turning round in alarm was confronted by the beaming face of George.

“How do you do, Professor Panky?” said the youth—­who had decided thus to address him.  “What are you doing here among the common people?  Why have you not taken your place in one of the seats reserved for our distinguished visitors?  I am afraid they must be all full by this time, but I will see what I can do for you.  Come with me.”

“Thank you,” said my father.  His heart beat so fast that this was all he could say, and he followed meek as a lamb.

With some difficulty the two made their way to the right-hand corner seats of block C, for every seat in the reserved block was taken.  The places which George wanted for my father and for himself were already occupied by two young men of about eighteen and nineteen, both of them well-grown, and of prepossessing appearance.  My father saw by the truncheons they carried that they were special constables, but he took no notice of this, for there were many others scattered about the crowd.  George whispered a few words to one of them, and to my father’s surprise they both gave up their seats, which appear on the plan as (k).

It afterwards transpired that these two young men were George’s brothers, who by his desire had taken the seats some hours ago, for it was here that George had determined to place himself and my father if he could find him.  He chose these places because they would be near enough to let his mother (who was at i, in the middle of the front row of block E, to the left of the pulpit) see my father without being so near as to embarrass him; he could also see and be seen by Hanky, and hear every word of his sermon; but perhaps his chief reason had been the fact that they were not far from the side-door at the upper end of the right-hand aisle, while there was no barrier to interrupt rapid egress should this prove necessary.

It was now high time that they should sit down, which they accordingly did.  George sat at the end of the bench, and thus had my father on his left.  My father was rather uncomfortable at seeing the young men whom they had turned out, standing against a column close by, but George said that this was how it was to be, and there was nothing to be done but to submit.  The young men seemed quite happy, which puzzled my father, who of course had no idea that their action was preconcerted.