“Now, my dear, you’ll be late!”

Mr. Pendyce, in his Norfolk jacket, which he was on his way to change for a black coat, passed through the room, followed by the spaniel John.  He turned at the door, and the spaniel John turned too.

“I hope to goodness Barter’ll be short this morning.  I want to talk to old Fox about that new chaff-cutter.”

Round their mistress the three terriers raised their heads; the aged Skye gave forth a gentle growl.  Mrs. Pendyce leaned over and stroked his nose.

“Roy, Roy, how can you, dear?”

Mr. Pendyce said: 

“The old dog’s losing all his teeth; he’ll have to be put away.”

His wife flushed painfully.

“Oh no, Horace—­oh no!”

The Squire coughed.

“We must think of the dog!” he said.

Mrs. Pendyce rose, and crumpling the letter nervously, followed him from the room.

A narrow path led through the home paddock towards the church, and along it the household were making their way.  The maids in feathers hurried along guiltily by twos and threes; the butler followed slowly by himself.  A footman and a groom came next, leaving trails of pomatum in the air.  Presently General Pendyce, in a high square-topped bowler hat, carrying a malacca cane, and Prayer-Book, appeared walking between Bee and Norah, also carrying Prayer-Books, with fox-terriers by their sides.  Lastly, the Squire in a high hat, six or seven paces in advance of his wife, in a small velvet toque.

The rooks had ceased their wheeling and their cawing; the five-minutes bell, with its jerky, toneless tolling, alone broke the Sunday hush.  An old horse, not yet taken up from grass, stood motionless, resting a hind-leg, with his face turned towards the footpath.  Within the churchyard wicket the Rector, firm and square, a low-crowned hat tilted up on his bald forehead, was talking to a deaf old cottager.  He raised his hat and nodded to the ladies; then, leaving his remark unfinished, disappeared within the vestry.  At the organ Mrs. Barter was drawing out stops in readiness to play her husband into church, and her eyes, half-shining and half-anxious, were fixed intently on the vestry door.

The Squire and Mrs. Pendyce, now almost abreast, came down the aisle and took their seats beside their daughters and the General in the first pew on the left.  It was high and cushioned.  They knelt down on tall red hassocks.  Mrs. Pendyce remained over a minute buried in thought; Mr. Pendyce rose sooner, and looking down, kicked the hassock that had been put too near the seat.  Fixing his glasses on his nose, he consulted a worn old Bible, then rising, walked to the lectern and began to find the Lessons.  The bell ceased; a wheezing, growling noise was heard.  Mrs. Barter had begun to play; the Rector, in a white surplice, was coming in.  Mr. Pendyce, with his back turned, continued to find the Lessons.  The service began.