His command of English, too, surprised his hearers, and Dr.Owen, himself a popular preacher, confessed he had never possessed such an easy flow of that language.

As for Ebben Owens himself, as the sermon proceeded, although he understood but little English, not a word, nor a phrase, nor an inflection of the beloved voice escaped his attention; and as he bent his head at the benediction tears of thankfulness, pride, and joy filled his eyes.

But he dried them hastily with his bran new silk handkerchief, and followed Ann out of the church with the first of the congregation.
"We'll wait with the car," he said, "at the top of the lane.

We won't push ourselves on to him at the church door when all the gentry are speaking to him." And Ann sat in the car with the reins in her hand, while the congregation filed past, many of them turning aside to congratulate warmly the father and sister of such a preacher.

One by one the people passed on, two or three carriages rolled by, and still Will had not appeared.
"Here he is, I think," said Ebben Owens, as two gentlemen walked slowly up the lane, and watching them, he scarcely caught sight of a carriage that drove quickly by.