The Major stood with his back against a tree-stem, and all his congregation were ranged around him.

To his right stood Miss Thornton, her arms folded placidly before her; and with her, Mary and Mrs.Buckley, in front of whom sat the two boys: Sam, the elder, trying to keep Charles, the younger, quiet.

Next, going round the circle, stood the old housekeeper, servant of the Buckleys for thirty years; who now looked askance off her Prayer-book to see that the two convict women under her charge were behaving with decorum.
Next, and exactly opposite the Major, were two free servants: one a broad, brawny, athleticlooking man, with, I thought, not a bad countenance; and the other a tall, handsome, foolish-looking Devonshire lad.

The round was completed by five convict man-servants, standing vacantly looking about them; and Tom, James, and myself, who were next the Major.
The service, which he read in a clear manly voice, was soon over, and we returned to the house in groups.

I threw myself in the way of the two free servants, and asked,-- "Pray, which of you is William Lee ?"--for I had forgotten him.
The short thickset man I had noticed before touched his hat and said that he was.