Neither had Grace Van Horne, for that matter, but Captain Eben's absence was the most astonishing.
"Somethin's the matter," whispered Josiah Badger to his right-hand neighbor.

"Somethin's wrong d-d-d-down to the tavern, sartin' sure.
I'm goin' down there just soon's meetin's over and f-f-f-find out.
Eben wouldn't no more miss leadin' his meetin' from choice than I'd go without a meal's v-v-vi-vittles.

Somethin's happened and I'm goin' to know what 'tis.

You'll go along with me, won't ye, Lot ?" The answer was an affirmative.

In fact, almost every worshiper in that chapel had determined to visit the Hammond tavern as soon as the service was at an end.
In the Regular parsonage Keziah sat alone by the sitting-room table.
Prayer meeting and supper she had forgotten entirely.