"Only seven annas three pice! And you call that a good meeting! I don't
believe you exhorted them to give!"
"Oh, I think I did!" Laura returned mechanically.
"Seven annas and three pice! And you know what the Commissioner wrote
out about our last quarter's earnings! What did you say?"
"I said--I said the collection would now be taken up," Laura faltered.
"Oh dear! oh dear! Leopold, stop clawing me! Couldn't you think of
anythin' more tellin' or more touchin' than that? Fever or no fever, it
does not do for me to stay away from the regular meetin's. One thing is
plain--_he_ wasn't there!"
"Who?"
"Well, you've never told me his name, but I expect you've got your
reasons." Mrs. Sand's tone was not arch, but slightly resentful. "I mean
the gentleman that attends so regular and sits behind, under the window.
A society man, I should say, to look at him, though the officers of this
Army are no respecters of persons, and I don't suppose the Lord takes
any notice of his clothes."
"His name is Mr. Lindsay. No, he wasn't there."
The girl's tone was distant and cold. The rebuke about the collection
had gone home to a place raw with similar reproaches.
"I hope you haven't been discouraging him?"
Captain Filbert looked at her superior officer with astonishment.
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