The rest of the congregation were--
the male part of it--in white or gray smock-frocks, the elderly
women in black bonnets, the younger in straw; but we had not long to
make our observations, for Chapman took possession of us. He was
parish clerk, and was in great glory in his mourning coat and hat,
and his object was to marshal us all into our pew before he had to
attend upon the clergyman; and of course I was glad enough to get as
soon as possible out of sight of all the eyes not yet accustomed to
my figure.
And hidden enough I was when we had been introduced through the
little north chancel door into a black-curtained, black-cushioned,
black-lined pew, well carpeted, with a table in the midst, and a
stove, whose pipe made its exit through the floriated tracery of the
window overhead. The chancel arch was to the west of us, blocked up
by a wooden parcel-gilt erection, and to the east a decorated window
that would have been very handsome if two side-lights had not been
obscured by the two Tables of the Law, with the royal arms on the
top of the first table, and over the other our own, with the Fordyce
in a scutcheon of pretence; for, as an inscription recorded, they
had been erected by Margaret, daughter of Christopher Fordyce,
Esquire, of Chantry House, and relict of Sir James John Winslow,
Kt., sergeant-at-law, A.D. 1700--the last date, I verily believe, at
which anything had been done to the church.
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