Business and cares
were to be avoided, and if he had anything necessary to be done, it
had better be got over at once, so as to be off his mind. Martyn
and Frith gathered that the case was thought doubtful, and entirely
dependent on constitution and rallying power. Clarence himself
seemed almost passive, caring only for our presence and the
accomplishment of his task.
We had a blessed thanksgiving for mercies received in the Margaret
Street Chapel, as we called what is now All Saints; but he and I
were unfit for crowds, and on Sunday morning availed ourselves of a
friend's seat in our old church, which felt so natural and homelike
to us elders that Martyn was scandalised at our taste. But it was
the church of our Confirmation and first Communion, and Clarence
rejoiced that it was that of his first home-coming Eucharist. What
a contrast was he now to the shrinking boy, scarcely tolerated under
his stigmatised name. Surely the Angel had led him all his life
through!
How happy we two were in the afternoon, while the others conducted
Lawrence to some more noteworthy church.
'Now,' said Clarence, 'let us go down to Beachharbour. It must be
done at once. I have been trying to write, and I can't do it,' and
his face lighted with a quiet smile which I understood.
So we wrote to the principal hotel to secure rooms, and set forth on
Tuesday, leaving Frith to finish with Mr.
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