"Distinct improvement on friend Toby," whispered one committee-man to another; and this was the general opinion.

Yet there was some anxiety regarding the address they were about to hear.

Denzil did not look like a man who would mince his words and go half-way in his opinions.

The Woman question was rather a dangerous one in Polterham just now; that period of Revivalism, and the subsequent campaign of Mrs.Hitchin, had left a sore feeling in not a few of the townsfolk.

An old gentleman (he had known Denzil as a boy) ventured to speak of this to the lecturer.
"Don't be afraid, Mr.Toft," was the laughing reply.