The spreading and removal of a tablecloth for every meal came to be regarded as foolish toil.

When room was required on the table for plates, the books and papers were swept on one side.

A pile of potatoes, and the pan, with bacon or a fish perhaps still frizzling in it, was set in the place left vacant.
Morning and evening AEneas Conneally expected his son to join with him in prayer.

The two knelt together on the earthen floor facing the window, while the old man meditated aloud on Divine things.

There were breaks in his speech and long silences, so that sometimes it was hard to tell when his prayer had really ended.