Hanky did his best to quiet his hearers when he found that he could not
infuriate them,--
"This poor man," he said, "is already known to me, as one of those who
have deluded themselves into believing that they are the Sunchild. I
have known of his so declaring himself, more than once, in the
neighbourhood of Bridgeford, and others have not infrequently done the
same; I did not at first recognize him, and regret that the shock of
horror his words occasioned me should have prompted me to suggest
violence against him. Let this unfortunate affair pass from your minds,
and let me again urge upon you the claims of the Sunchild Evidence
Society."
The audience on hearing that they were to be told more about the Sunchild
Evidence Society melted away even more rapidly than before, and the
sermon fizzled out to an ignominious end quite unworthy of its occasion.
About half-past twelve, the service ended, and Hanky went to the robing-
room to take off his vestments. Yram, the Mayor, and Panky, waited for
him at the door opposite to that through which my father had been taken;
while waiting, Yram scribbled off two notes in pencil, one to Dr. Downie,
and another to Mrs. Humdrum, begging them to come to lunch at once--for
it would be one o'clock before they could reach the Mayor's. She gave
these notes to the Mayor, and bade him bring both the invited guests
along with him.
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