They sang louder than before: it seemed to him that they were screaming.
"But thus th' eternal counsel ran,
'Almighty love, arrest that man!'"
Dale closed the hymn-book, held it behind his back, and stared at the cross-beams of the roof until the hymn was over.
After the hymn Mr. Osborn read a couple of chapters from the Bible, and Dale, seated again, understood how utterly unfounded had been his recent notion that these people were devoting any particular attention to him. He looked at them carefully. Obviously they had not a thought of him. The eyes of those near to him and far from him were alike fixed upon the pastor's face.
But as soon as they sang again he experienced the same sensations again, felt a conviction that the hymn was aimed directly at him.
"Lord, when Thy Spirit deigns to show
The badness of our hearts,
Astonished at the amazing view,
The Soul with horror starts.
"Our staggering faith gives way to doubt,
Our courage yields to fear;
Shocked at the sight, we straight cry out,
'Can ever God dwell here?'
"None less than God's Almighty Son
Can move such loads of sin;
The water from his side must run,
To wash this dungeon clean."
"Now, I think," said Mr. Osborn, "it is fairly lighting-up time, and that no one can accuse us of being extravagant if we call for the match-boxes. Brother Maghull, please get to work. And, yes, you too, Brother Hartley, if you will. You're always a dab at regulating them."
Then the lamps were lighted; two or three men going round to do the work, the congregation generally assisting as much as they were able, while the pastor, watching all operations, made genial comments.