He chose these places because they would be near enough to let
his mother (who was at i, in the middle of the front row of block E, to
the left of the pulpit) see my father without being so near as to
embarrass him; he could also see and be seen by Hanky, and hear every
word of his sermon; but perhaps his chief reason had been the fact that
they were not far from the side-door at the upper end of the right-hand
aisle, while there was no barrier to interrupt rapid egress should this
prove necessary.
It was now high time that they should sit down, which they accordingly
did. George sat at the end of the bench, and thus had my father on his
left. My father was rather uncomfortable at seeing the young men whom
they had turned out, standing against a column close by, but George said
that this was how it was to be, and there was nothing to be done but to
submit. The young men seemed quite happy, which puzzled my father, who
of course had no idea that their action was preconcerted.
Panky was in the first row of block F, so that my father could not see
his face except sometimes when he turned round. He was sitting on the
Mayor's right hand, while Dr. Downie was on his left; he looked at my
father once or twice in a puzzled way, as though he ought to have known
him, but my father did not think he recognised him.
Pages:
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198