The first Sunday came and with it the first sermon.  He read that sermon to Keziah on Saturday evening and she approved of it as a whole, though she criticised some of its details.

“Don’t be afraid to put in plenty of salt,” she said.  “Where you’ve got the Christian life and spirit written down as bein’ like a quiet, peaceful home, free from all distrust, and like that, why don’t you change it to a good safe anchorage, where the soul can ride forever without fear of breakers or no’theasters or the dangers besettin’ the mariner on a lee shore.  They’ll understand that; it gets right home to ’em.  There’s scarcely a man or a woman in your congregation that ain’t been out of sight of land for weeks on a stretch.”

The breakfast hour on Sunday would be at nine o’clock, instead of seven, as on week days, she told him.

“Trumet lays to bed Sunday mornin’s,” she explained.  “It’s almost a part of its religion, as you might say, and lived up to more conscientious than some other parts, I’m afraid.  Six days shalt thou labor and wear comfort’ble clothes; and on the seventh you must be lazy and dress up.  Likewise you must have baked beans Saturday for supper, as we’re havin’ ‘em, and more beans with fish balls next mornin’.  That is, if you want to be orthodox.”

The service began at eleven o’clock.  At half past ten the sexton, old Mr. Jubal Knowles, rang the “first bell,” a clanging five-minute reminder.  Twenty minutes later he began on the second and final call.  Mr. Ellery was ready—­and nervous—­before the first bell had finished ringing.  But Keziah, entering the sitting room dressed in black alpaca and carrying the hymn book with her name in gilt letters on the cover, forbade his leaving the parsonage thus early.

“I shall go pretty soon,” she said, “but you mustn’t.  The minister ain’t expected until the last bell’s ’most done.  Parson Langley used to wait until the Winslows went in.  Gaius Winslow is a widower man who lives up to the west end of the town and he’s got nine children, all boys.  You’ll know ’em because they always drive down to meetin’ in one carryall with a white horse.  Gaius is as punctual as a boardin’-house dinner.  The old parson used to wait until the last Winslow had toddled up the meetin’-house steps and then he’d come out of this side door with his sermon in his hand.  It’s a pretty good rule to remember and saves watchin’ the clock.  Besides, it’s what we’ve been used to, and that goes a good ways with some folks.  Good-by, Mr. Ellery.  You’ll see me in the third pew from the back, on the right side, wishin’ you luck just as hard as I can.”