Tobias started the Sabbath day in a buoyant mood. When in church, old Mr. Hodges woke up from a vivid dream in the middle of the sermon, no doubt recalling some ancient wrongdoing. He yelled loudly when Tobias was in full flow about turning the other cheek, “I’ll get ye for this if it’s the last thing I do, ye rotten bastards!” Even this slightly awkward interruption did not disturb Tobias’s sense of inner well-being.
After all, he had virtually plighted his troth to the lovely Lucy Holbourne at a party a few days before. His churchwarden might be interfering beyond the limits of his role and his housekeeper selectively deaf, but these everyday irritants could not spoil his sense of all-pervading gladness.
On Tuesday, this equable frame of mind was slightly dampened. He was out and about
