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Snow did come, and Leonidas, arrayed in his best "go-to-meeting style," geared up his sleigh, and what with bear skins and bells, fancying himself and appurtenances enough to charm the heart of any maid or matron in the back woods, set off to spark Grace Marley.
Black horse-hair furniture, very slippery and hard, stood against the wall; the table had its gift books, albums, worsted mat and ugly lamp; the mantel-piece its china vases, pink shells, and clock that never went; the gay carpet was kept distressingly bright by closed shutters six days out of the seven, and a general air of go-to-meeting solemnity pervaded the room.
Every thing suggested home life, humble but happy, and Christie's solitary heart warmed at the sights and sounds about her. A half open closet-door gave her glimpses of little frocks and jackets, stubby little shoes, and go-to-meeting hats all in a row.
But soon those treacherous nerves restored themselves, the upper and lower parts of him were all one again, and the diffuse yet darting pain returned. Anger came too. It seemed that the dead man mocked him, went on softly laughing at him. "What a humbug you are" he gave the dead man words "what a colossal humbug. You and your nice Sunday go-to-meeting thoughts.
Nor did the judge utter a word; he sat at his desk sideways, with his boots resting on a chair. He wore neither wig nor gown, and had not even put on his Sunday go-to-meeting clothes. Neither had the lawyers. If there was a court crier or constable present he was indistinguishable from the rest of the audience. Near the judge's desk there was a bucket of water and three tumblers on a small table.
Why should there not be a return to the persecutions of years ago? When first I came to the place the Protestants were hooted as they went to church, and I can remember seeing this very Strachan going to worship on Sunday morning, his black go-to-meeting coat so covered with the spittle of the mob that you would not know him.
"Padre," said Verena, "is she old or young?" "Old, I think; perhaps neither." "Write it down, Briar. She is neither old nor young. Paddy, is she dark or fair?" "I really can't remember, dear. A most unpleasant person." "Put down that she is not over-beautiful," said Verena. "Paddy, must we put on our best dresses when she comes our Sunday go-to-meeting frocks, you know?"
Directly an immigrant has landed, he feels that his first earnings must be devoted to a Sunday go-to-meeting suit. His fellow-men all have one, and he does not like to feel himself their inferior, even with regard to a coat. Hitherto I have been writing of the properties and adjuncts of Australian life. It is high time to say something of the colonists themselves.
I rubbed my eyes, half expecting that I was the subject of mere optical illusion; but a second look only confirmed the first. Around me were solemn, go-to-meeting faces, smileless and awful; and close at hand were the delving, toiling, mud-begrimed laborers. Nobody seemed surprised at it; nobody noticed it as a thing out of the common course of events.
David, whose slumbers were disturbed, rose also, yawned and stretched. "Here I be, Mrs. Hobbs," answered the girl. "I'm a-comin'." Mrs. Hobbs was standing in the doorway of the barn. Mary-'Gusta noticed that she was not, as usual, garbed in gingham, but was arrayed in her best go-to-meeting gown. "I'm a-comin'," said the child. "Comin', yes. But where on earth have you been?
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