It is doubtful if any one like this had ever confronted the First Church within the sanctuary.

It was tolerably familiar with this sort of humanity out on the street, around the railroad shops, wandering up and down the avenue, but it had never dreamed of such an incident as this so near.
There was nothing offensive in the man's manner or tone.

He was not excited and he spoke in a low but distinct voice.

Mr.Maxwell was conscious, even as he stood there smitten into dumb astonishment at the event, that somehow the man's action reminded him of a person he had once seen walking and talking in his sleep.
No one in the house made any motion to stop the stranger or in any way interrupt him.

Perhaps the first shock of his sudden appearance deepened into a genuine perplexity concerning what was best to do.
However that may be, he went on as if he had no thought of interruption and no thought of the unusual element which he had introduced into the decorum of the First Church service.