Edward Phillips Oppenheim

The Survivor Edward Phillips Oppenheim

A little party of men and women on bicycles were pushing their machines up the steepascent which formed the one street of Feldwick village. It was a Sunday morning, and theplace was curiously empty. Their little scraps of gay conversation and laughter-they weremen and women of the smart world-seemed to strike almost a pagan note in a deepSabbatical stillness. They passed the wide open doors of a red brick chapel, and several ofthe worshippers within turned their heads. As the last two of the party went by, thewheezings of a harmonium ceased, and a man's voice came travelling out to them. The ladyrested her hand upon her host's arm. "Listen," she whispered. Her host, Lord of the Manor, Lord Lieutenant of the County, and tenth Earl of Cumberland, paused readily enough and leaned his machine against a kerbstone. Bicycling was by nomeans a favourite pursuit of his, and the morning for the time of year was warm."Dear lady," he murmured, "shall we go a little nearer and listen to the words of grace?Anything for a short rest.