Sundial’s heart stood still.
Then—
“Why, it’s Mister John,” piped an old, tremulous voice.
Pent-up feelings vented themselves in an hysterically explosive ‘Sh-h-h.’
Pendragon rose to his feet and glanced down the church. Then he stepped down from the chancel and passed to Mrs. Trelawney and Miss de Lisle.
A whisper, and the ladies rose and preceded him to his family pew.
The ranks of Sundial ‘could scarce forbear to cheer.’
But when, after the Second Lesson, the Vicar published ‘the Banns of Marriage between Christopher John Charles Pendragon, Bachelor, and Audrey de Lisle, Spinster, both of this Parish,’ the concluding sentences were lost in a spontaneous rendering of Sundial’s favourite hymn.
This was the Old Hundredth.
The villagers of Sundial are simple folk.