He lived always in the consciousness of an invisible presence; when he felt the arms of Heaven around him, wooing him to prayer, he dared not disobey.
He arose now, setting his chair back against the wall with preoccupied precision.

"The spirit of prayer is upon me," he said; and in a moment he added, "Let us pray." Susannah was eating, and with relish.

She laid down her bit of pumpkin pie and stared astonished.

Then, being a girl of good sense and good feeling, she relinquished the remainder of her supper, and, following her aunt's example, knelt beside her chair.
The two candles and the firelight left shadowy spaces in parts of the room, and cast grotesque outlines against the walls.

Nothing was familiar to Susannah's eye; she could not help looking about her.
Ephraim was nearest to her.