'I think not.'
'As you will, minister. There are times when folk avoid prayer as the sick avoid medicine.'
James had a resonant voice, and it was always pitched on the intoning note. Also, he accented almost every other syllable.
'We bring you the Lord's message, minister. I speak for 'Im.'
'You are sure?'
'Has not He answered us each and severally with a loud voice in the night-watches?'
'Ah! He 'as! True! Yes, yes!' the crowd murmured.
'And what we are to say,' James went on, 'is that the adulteress must go. You must put her away at once and publicly; and if she will make open confession of the sin, it will be counted to you for righteousness.'
Edward came and stood in front of Hazel.
'Had you,' James continued in trumpet tones—'had you, when she played the sinner with Mr. Reddin, Esquire, leading a respectable gentleman into open sin, chastened and corrected her—ay, given her the bread of affliction and the water of affliction and taken counsel with us—'