He laughed. "Mr Ewing is not a Chrysostom," he said, "but he is a good fellow and a gentleman, and in that capacity I think he has a distinctly refining influence on his people."
"No doubt, doctor; but don't you think it is better to have the water of life in an earthen vessel——?"
"Ah, yes," he said, with sudden seriousness. "If you give us the water of life, we won't stop to criticise the bowl."
"Well, you wait till you hear Mr Stuart."
An almost imperceptible smile played about his mouth. He glanced at Mona, and found her eyes fixed on his face; but she looked away instantly. She would not be guilty of the disloyalty to Rachel involved in the subtlest voluntary glance of comprehension; but her face was a very eloquent one, and his short-sighted eyes were quick.
"Que diable allait-elle faire dans cette galère?" he thought.
"My dear," said Rachel to Mona, in that mysterious tone invariably assumed by some people when they speak of things sacred, "we always have the Communion after the morning service. Were you meaning to stay?"
"You would not have me, would you?"
"You'd wonder." Rachel raised her voice. "We're very wide. Mr Stuart has got into trouble with several other ministers in the Union for his liberality. He says he will turn away no man who is a converted Christian."
Dr Dudley's eyes sparkled. "I should have thought a converted pagan would be even dearer to Stuart's heart."