Her father was not a bit angry at her for saying this. She knew it, hence her boldness.
He almost smiled, a very—very rare thing for him to do; he was proud to think that people would say to each other: "Look, there is Mr. Rougeant, he is not a proud man."
On the evening in question, the clergyman almost lost his speech and his senses when he saw Mr. Rougeant sitting beside his daughter.
The worshippers thought not of the prayers as they were being read, or the audience of the sermon, as it was being delivered; they thought of Mr. Rougeant.
And, when the people came out of the church, instead of the usual remarks about the weather, folks said to one another: "Have you seen Mr. Rougeant." "Yes," answered the more composed, "it is not often one sees him about here."
"Oh!" answered the others, "how shocking."
A party of elderly ladies were assembling just outside the churchyard gates.
"Have you seen Mr. Rougeant?" they asked unanimously, as they approached one another.
"Oh, yes," replied Mrs. Martin, "I was quite astounded when I saw him enter."
"Yes, but you see," remarked another, "he has been ill, and maybe he has felt the need of worshipping in the house of God."