Philip grew bored during the sermon, but if he fidgetted Mrs. Carey put a gentle hand on his arm and looked at him reproachfully.  He regained interest when the final hymn was sung and Mr. Graves passed round with the plate.

When everyone had gone Mrs. Carey went into Miss Graves’ pew to have a few words with her while they were waiting for the gentlemen, and Philip went to the vestry.  His uncle, the curate, and Mr. Graves were still in their surplices.  Mr. Carey gave him the remains of the consecrated bread and told him he might eat it.  He had been accustomed to eat it himself, as it seemed blasphemous to throw it away, but Philip’s keen appetite relieved him from the duty.  Then they counted the money.  It consisted of pennies, sixpences and threepenny bits.  There were always two single shillings, one put in the plate by the Vicar and the other by Mr. Graves; and sometimes there was a florin.  Mr. Graves told the Vicar who had given this.  It was always a stranger to Blackstable, and Mr. Carey wondered who he was.  But Miss Graves had observed the rash act and was able to tell Mrs. Carey that the stranger came from London, was married and had children.  During the drive home Mrs. Carey passed the information on, and the Vicar made up his mind to call on him and ask for a subscription to the Additional Curates Society.  Mr. Carey asked if Philip had behaved properly; and Mrs. Carey remarked that Mrs. Wigram had a new mantle, Mr. Cox was not in church, and somebody thought that Miss Phillips was engaged.  When they reached the vicarage they all felt that they deserved a substantial dinner.

When this was over Mrs. Carey went to her room to rest, and Mr. Carey lay down on the sofa in the drawing-room for forty winks.

They had tea at five, and the Vicar ate an egg to support himself for evensong.  Mrs. Carey did not go to this so that Mary Ann might, but she read the service through and the hymns.  Mr. Carey walked to church in the evening, and Philip limped along by his side.  The walk through the darkness along the country road strangely impressed him, and the church with all its lights in the distance, coming gradually nearer, seemed very friendly.  At first he was shy with his uncle, but little by little grew used to him, and he would slip his hand in his uncle’s and walk more easily for the feeling of protection.

They had supper when they got home.  Mr. Carey’s slippers were waiting for him on a footstool in front of the fire and by their side Philip’s, one the shoe of a small boy, the other misshapen and odd.  He was dreadfully tired when he went up to bed, and he did not resist when Mary Ann undressed him.  She kissed him after she tucked him up, and he began to love her.

VIII