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overhead。
Somerset endeavoured to discover which one among the
assemblage was to be the subject of the ceremony。 But nobody
appeared there who was at all out of the region of
commonplace。 The people were all quiet and settled； yet he
could discern on their faces something more than attention；
though it was less than excitement： perhaps it was
expectation。 And as if to bear out his surmise he heard at
that moment the noise of wheels behind him。
His gaze into the lighted chapel made what had been an evening
scene when he looked away from the landscape night itself on
looking back； but he could see enough to discover that a
brougham had driven up to the side…door used by the young
water…bearers； and that a lady in white…and…black half…
mourning was in the act of alighting； followed by what
appeared to be a waiting…woman carrying wraps。 They entered
the vestry…room of the chapel； and the door was shut。 The
service went on as before till at a certain moment the door
between vestry and chapel was opened； when a woman came out
clothed in an ample robe of flowing white； which descended to
her feet。 Somerset was unfortunate in his position； he could
not see her face； but her gait suggested at once that she was
the lady who had arrived just before。 She was rather tall
than otherwise； and the contour of her head and shoulders
denoted a girl in the heyday of youth and activity。 His
imagination； stimulated by this beginning； set about filling
in the meagre outline with most attractive details。
She stood upon the brink of the pool； and the minister
descended the steps at its edge till the soles of his shoes
were moistened with the water。 He turned to the young
candidate； but she did not follow him： instead of doing so
she remained rigid as a stone。 He stretched out his hand； but
she still showed reluctance； till； with some embarrassment； he
went back； and spoke softly in her ear。
She approached the edge； looked into the water； and turned
away shaking her head。 Somerset could for the first time see
her face。 Though humanly imperfect； as is every face we see；
it was one which made him think that the best in woman…kind no
less than the best in psalm…tunes had gone over to the
Dissenters。 He had certainly seen nobody so interesting in
his tour hitherto； she was about twenty or twenty…oneperhaps
twenty…three； for years have a way of stealing marches even
upon beauty's anointed。 The total dissimilarity between the
expression of her lineaments and that of the countenances
around her was not a little surprising； and was productive of
hypotheses without measure as to how she came there。 She was；
in fact； emphatically a modern type of maidenhood； and she
looked ultra…modern by reason of her environment： a
presumably sophisticated being among the simple onesnot
wickedly so； but one who knew life fairly well for her age。
Her hair； of good English brown； neither light nor dark； was
abundanttoo abundant for convenience in tying； as it seemed；
and it threw off the lamp…light in a hazy lustre。 And though
it could not be said of her features that this or that was
flawless； the nameless charm of them altogether was only
another instance of how beautiful a woman can be as a whole
without attaining in any one detail to the lines marked out as
absolutely correct。 The spirit and the life were there： and
material shapes could be disregarded。
Whatever moral characteristics this might be the surface of；
enough was shown to assure Somerset that she had some
experience of things far removed from her present
circumscribed horizon； and could live； and was even at that
moment living； a clandestine； stealthy inner life which had
very little to do with her outward one。 The repression of
nearly every external sign of that distress under which
Somerset knew； by a sudden intuitive sympathy； that she was
labouring； added strength to these convictions。
'And you refuse？' said the astonished minister； as she still
stood immovable on the brink of the pool。 He persuasively
took her sleeve between his finger and thumb as if to draw
her； but she resented this by a quick movement of displeasure；
and he released her； seeing that he had gone too far。
'But； my dear lady；' he said； 'you promised！ Consider your
profession； and that you stand in the eyes of the whole church
as an exemplar of your faith。'
'I cannot do it！'
'But your father's memory； miss； his last dying request！'
'I cannot help it；' she said； turning to get away。
'You came here with the intention to fulfil the Word？'
'But I was mistaken。'
'Then why did you come？'
She tacitly implied that to be a question she did not care to
answer。 'Please say no more to me；' she murmured； and
hastened to withdraw。
During this unexpected dialogue （which had reached Somerset's
ears through the open windows） that young man's feelings had
flown hither and thither between minister and lady in a most
capricious manner： it had seemed at one moment a rather
uncivil thing of her； charming as she was； to give the
minister and the water…bearers so much trouble for nothing；
the next； it seemed like reviving the ancient cruelties of the
ducking…stool to try to force a girl into that dark water if
she had not a mind to it。 But the minister was not without
insight； and he had seen that it would be useless to say more。
The crestfallen old man had to turn round upon the
congregation and declare officially that the baptism was
postponed。
She passed through the door into the vestry。 During the
exciting moments of her recusancy there had been a perceptible
flutter among the sensitive members of the congregation；
nervous Dissenters seeming to be at one with nervous
Episcopalians in this at least； that they heartily disliked a
scene during service。 Calm was restored to their minds by the
minister starting a rather long hymn in minims and semibreves；
amid the singing of which he ascended the pulpit。 His face
had a severe and even denunciatory look as he gave out his
text； and Somerset began to understand that this meant
mischief to the young person who had caused the hitch。
'In the third chapter of Revelation and the fifteenth and
following verses； you will find these words：
'〃I know thy works； that thou art neither cold nor hot： I
would thou wert cold or hot。 So then because thou art
lukewarm； and neither cold nor hot； I will spue thee out of my
mouth。 。 。 。 Thou sayest； I am rich； and increased with
goods； and have need of nothing； and knowest not that thou art
wretched； and miserable； and poor； and blind； and naked。〃'
The sermon straightway began； and it was soon apparent that
the commentary was to be no less forcible than the text。 It
was also apparent that the words were； virtually； not directed
forward in the line in which they were uttered； but through
the chink of the vestry…door； that had stood slightly ajar
since the exit of the young lady。 The listeners appeared to
feel this no less than Somerset did； for their eyes； one and
all； became fixed upon that vestry door as if they would
almost push it open by the force of their gazing。 The
preacher's heart was full