For all this morning, through the long services in the 'Christian Brethren' chapel at Clough End, and on the walk home, he had been once more pricked in his conscience.

Hannah and Louie were not on speaking terms.

At meals the aunt assigned the child her coarse food without a word, and on the way to chapel and back there had been a stony silence between them.

It was evident, even to his dull mind, that the girl was white and thin, and that between her wild temper and mischief and the mirth of other children there was a great difference.
Moreover, certain passages in the chapel prayers that morning had come home sharply to a mind whereof the only definite gift was a true religious sensitiveness.

The text of the sermon especially--'Whoso loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, how shall he love God, whom he hath not seen ?'--vibrated like an accusing voice within him.