I do
not know whether you are at all used with our Scottish form; but in
case you are not I will find your places for you; and Dr. Henry
Gray, of St. Mary's (under whom I sit), is as good a preacher as we
have to show you.'
This put me in a quandary. It was a degree of risk I was scarce
prepared for. Dozens of people, who might pass me by in the street
with no more than a second look, would go on from the second to the
third, and from that to a final recognition, if I were set before
them, immobilised in a pew, during the whole time of service. An
unlucky turn of the head would suffice to arrest their attention.
'Who is that?' they would think: 'surely I should know him!' and,
a church being the place in all the world where one has least to
think of, it was ten to one they would end by remembering me before
the benediction. However, my mind was made up: I thanked my
obliging friend, and placed myself at his disposal.
Our way now led us into the north-east quarter of the town, among
pleasant new faubourgs, to a decent new church of a good size,
where I was soon seated by the side of my good Samaritan, and
looked upon by a whole congregation of menacing faces. At first
the possibility of danger kept me awake; but by the time I had
assured myself there was none to be apprehended, and the service
was not in the least likely to be enlivened by the arrest of a
French spy, I had to resign myself to the task of listening to Dr.
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