Dear soul alive! how unmannerly these Virley people are! They want some of us from Mersea to come and teach them manners. Now, then, young Spat!" she shouted to a great boy in a fishing guernsey, "do you want your head combing? Do you see what you have done to my best silk gown? What do you mean coming to a house of worship in mud-splashers?[1] Are you come here after winkles?"
"I ain't got my splashers on," said the boy.
"Then you have feet as big and as dirty as paddles. You have trodden on my best silk and took it out at the gathers." Then, turning and looking through the door behind her, she waved her umbrella with a proud flourish.
"Come on, hearties! I've cleared the way."
She put her shoulder to the crowd and wedged her way further ahead. "Ah!" she said, "here are a lot of sniggering girls. If all was known what ought to be known some of you ought to be getting married to-day. Leave off your laughing up there!" gesticulating towards the boys in the loft. "Don't you know yet how to behave in a place of worship? I have a great mind to draw my Pandora up at Virley hard and settle here and teach you."
Mehalah came in, pale, with sunken eyes, that burned with feverish brightness. A hectic flush dyed her cheeks. Her lips were set and did not tremble.
After having given her promise, under conditions, to Rebow she had neither slept nor eaten. She had abandoned her habit of retiring to the shore to sit and brood, and maintained instead incessant activity. When she had done what was necessary for others she made work for herself.
Mrs. Sharland had forgotten her ague and left her bed in the excitement and pleasure of her daughter's submission. She had attempted several times to speak to Mehalah of her approaching marriage, but had not been able to wring a word out of her. From the moment Glory gave her consent to Rebow she said not another syllable on the subject to him or to anyone. She became more taciturn and retiring, if possible, than before. Abraham Dowsing
- ↑ Wooden paddles, worn by those who go out "winkling " in the mud, to prevent their sinking.
