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l eyes were upon her； entered the building。 In the vestibule two grave…faced women in black bonnets handed papers with prayers and hymns to every newcomer。 Maggie took hers； a door was opened in front of her； and she went in。 The auditorium was a large one； semicircular in shape； with tiers of seats rising circus…fashion to a ceiling decorated with silver stars and pink naked cherubs。 The stage had upon it a table； some chairs； and a reading…desk draped in crimson cloth。 Below the stage was a small orchestra； consisting of two fiddles； a cornet； drum； and a piano。 There was also what seemed to Maggie a small choir； some women dressed in white and some men in black coats and white bow ties。 Across the stage were suspended broad white bands of cloth with 〃Come to Jesus！〃 〃Come now！〃 〃He is waiting for you！〃 in big black letters。
The hall seemed very full； and was violently illuminated with electric light。 Maggie took this in as she stood very timidly just inside the door。 A steward came forward and showed her a corner… seat。 She saw； then； with a dramatic flash of recognition； Thurston and Mr。 Crashaw sitting behind the table； then； with a still stranger emotion； Miss Avies as one of the white…robed choir。 The sight of those three familiar faces seemed to close； finally and definitely； the impression that she had had during all those last weeks。 They had 〃got〃 her again； and yet not they； but the power behind them。 It seemed only five minutes ago that she had sat in the London Chapel and heard old Crashaw scream 〃Punishment！ Punishment！ Punishment！〃 She turned half in her seat as though she expected to see Aunt Anne and Aunt Elizabeth sitting one on either side of her。 She looked at Thurston； he had coarsened very much since she had seen him last。 He was fatter； his cheeks stained with an unnaturally high colour； his eyes brighter and sharper and yet sensual too。 He was smarter than he had been； his white bow tie stiff and shapely； his cuffs clean and shining； his hair very carefully brushed back from his high and bony forehead。 His sharp eyes darted all over the building； and Maggie felt as though at any moment she would be discovered。 Crashaw looked more like a decrepit monkey than ever； huddled up in his chair； his back bow…shaped。 He breathed into his hands as though he wanted to warm them； and looked at nobody。 Miss Avies Maggie could not see clearly。
Her eyes wandered over the audience。 She saw many townspeople whom she knew； and she realised； for the first time； that tomorrow everywhere it would be said that the Rector's wife had been at the Revival meeting。
And how different an audience from the old London one。 Every one had come on this occasion to see a show； and it was certainly a show that they were going to see。 Maggie had entered during a pause； and all the faces that were there wore that look of expectation that demands the rising of the curtain。 Soon； Maggie felt； they would stamp and whistle did the play not begin。
Thurston rose and announced：
〃My brothers； we will sing hymn No。 14 on the paper。〃
Maggie looked and discovered that it was the hymn that had once moved her so dramatically in London with the words
By all Thy sores and bloody pain Come down and heal our sins again。
and with the last refrain：
By the blood； by the blood； by the blood of the Lamb We beseech Thee。
Already； in spite of herself； in spite of her consciousness of the melodrama and meretricious glitter of the scene； her heart was beating。 She was more deeply moved； even now； than she had ever been by all the services of the Skeaton Church。
And Thurston had learnt his job by this time。 Softly one of the violins played the tune。 Then Thurston said：
〃The first verse of this hymn will be sung by the choir alone。 The congregation is asked to stand and then to join in the second verse。 The fourth verse will be sung by the soloist。〃
The audience rose。 There was a hush of expectation throughout the building。 The choir； to the accompaniment of the fiddlers alone； sang the first verse。 They had been well selected and trained。 Thurston obviously spared no expense。 For the second verse； the whole orchestra combined； the drum booming through the refrain。 At first the congregation was timid； but the tune was simple and attractive。 The third verse was sung by every one； and Maggie found herself； almost against her will； joining in。 At the fourth verse there was again the hush of expectation； then a soprano； thin and clear； accompanied again by one violin； broke the silence。
There was no doubt that this was very moving。 Men and women sat down at the hymn's close quite visibly affected。
Thurston got up then and read a lesson from the Bible。 He read from the Revelations：
〃After this I looked； and； behold； a door was opened in heaven： and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me； which said； Come up hither； and I will show thee things which must be hereafter。〃
〃And immediately I was in the Spirit： and； behold； a throne was set in heaven； and one sat on the throne。〃
〃And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone： and there was a rainbow round about the throne； in sight like unto an emerald。 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats： and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting； clothed in white raiment； and they had on their heads crowns of gold。〃
Thurston had worked hard during these last years； he had immensely improved his accent； and his h's were all in their right places。 He read very dramatically； dropping his voice to a whisper； then pausing and staring in front of him as though he saw God only a few yards away。 The people of Skeaton had had few opportunities of any first…class dramatic entertainment。 When Thurston finished there passed through the building a wave of excitement； a stir； a faint murmur。 An old woman next to Maggie wiped her eyes。 〃Lovely！〃 Maggie heard her whisper。 〃Lovely！〃
They sang； then； another hymn； accompanied by the orchestra。 This was a dramatic hymn with a fiery martial tune：
The Lord of War He cometh down With Sword and Shield and Armour Bright； His armies all behind him Frown； Who can withstand His Light？
Chorus。 Trumpets Blare； The drum…taps Roll； Prepare to meet Thy God； Oh Soul！ Prepare！ Prepare！ Prepare to meet Thy God； oh Soul！
Never before had the men and women of Skeaton heard such hymns。 The Revival of ten years ago； lacking the vibrant spirit of Mr。 John Thurston； had been a very different affair。 This was something quite new in all Skeaton experience。 Red…hot expectation flamed now in every eye。 Maggie could feel that the old woman next to her was trembling all over。
Thurston announced：
〃Brother Crashaw will now deliver an address。〃
Brother Crashaw； his head still lowered； very slowly got up from his seat。 He moved as though it were only with the utmost difficulty and power of self…will that his reluctant body could be compelled into action。 He crept rather than walked from his chair to the reading… desk； then very very painfully climbed on to the high platform。 Maggie； watching him； remembered that earlier time when he had climbed into just such another desk。 She rememb