It was a pleasant sight.

I came into rank unobtrusively at the back, among the rustling and nudging lay brethren.

In other circumstances it would have amused me to see the grave faces they turned towards the altar, and to hear all the while the confused scuffling as they trod on each other's toes, trying whose skin was the tenderest or whose sandal soles were the thickest.

One or two even tried conclusions with me, but once only.

For the first who adventured got a stamp from my riding-boot which caused him to squeal out like a stuck pig, and but for the waking thunder of the organ might have gotten him a month's penance in addition.