The people thought and spoke of only one subject; they asked each other one question--"Will any of them be at meeting ?" The Unitarian church was nearly deserted that Sunday, for Parson Fair's former parishioners returned to their old gathering place, under stronger pressure, for the time, than religious tenets.
It was a burning day for May--as hot as midsummer.

The flowers were blossoming visibly under the eyes of the people, but they did not notice.

They flocked into the meeting-house and looked about them, all with the same expression in their eyes.
When Burr Gordon and his mother entered, a thrill seemed to pass through the whole congregation.

Nobody had thought they would come.
Mrs.Gordon, gliding with even pace, softly murmurous in her Sunday silk, followed her son, who walked with brave front, although he was undeniably pale, up the aisle to their pew.

He stood about to let his mother enter, meeting the eyes of the people as he did so; then sat down himself, and a long glance and a long nudge of shoulders passed over the meeting-house.