The congregation paid the preacher the great compliment of sitting on in absolute silence for a minute or two.

For a moment it still stared reality in the face.

And then Mr.Lessing shifted in his pew and coughed, and the Rector rose, pompously as usual, to announce the hymn, and Hilda became conscious of unaccustomed tears in her eyes.
The senior curate solemnly uncovered and removed the chalice.

Taking bread and wine, he deposited the sacred vessels at the north end of the altar, returned to the centre, unfolded the corporal, received the alms, and as solemnly set the great gold dish on the corporal itself, after the unmeaning custom of the church.

And then came the long prayer and the solemn procession to the vestry, while a dozen or two stayed with the senior curate for the Communion.
Graham found himself in the little inner vestry, with its green-cloth table and massive inkstand and registers, and began to unvest mechanically.