"We don't have such things in our churches!" I said, rather boastfully.
Mrs. Thorpe gave an odd little smile. She had been many times in Paris, and the low countries; and Protestant as she was, she had seen a deal more of Romish churches than we had.
"So much the better, my dear!" said she. "As I said, church is no place for them. I saw my Lady Throckmorton make up a face of disgust at Mr. Cheriton himself, as some poor women came in, and sat down in the free seats near her."
"What did Mr. Cheriton do?" asked Amabel.
"I could not see that he gave her so much as a glance," said Mrs. Thorpe. "Folks say—some of the straiter-laced kind at least—that Mr. Cheriton is too fond of the theatre and card table for a clergyman. But at least, he knows what belongs to good behavior in church, and he gave the sacrament to the poor women with as much care and gravity as he would have done to a princess."
"I heard say, that the Methodists were coming to town, and were to have preaching this morning, at five o'clock at the Sandgate," observed Mary Lee modestly. "Perhaps that was what sent so many to the communion."
"The Methodists would be more likely to keep them away, from what I hear!" replied Mrs. Thorpe. "It is said, they teach that there is no use at all in ordinances, and they set up the commonest sort of people to preach, and to administer the sacraments."
"I do not think that is quite true, mistress!" said Mary, who very seldom ventured to speak a word. "My Aunt Kesiah, who is with us now, used to hear Mr. Wesley preach in Bristol, and thereabouts, when she lived in those parts last year; and she said great complaint was made by some of the clergy, that Mr. Wesley and his brother sent so many to the sacrament. * The sexton at Kingswood, where all the colliers live, was downright vexed about it, aunt said. They do have preachers of the common people I believe, but they are only preachers."
* See Charles Wesley's "Memoirs," concerning the colliers of Kingswood.
"They are all Papists, and in league with the Pretender. My father says so," said Betty Humble.