In the evening they began their operations in a very regular manner, and my wife undertook to conduct the siege.

After tea, when I seemed in spirits, she began thus.--'I fancy, Charles, my dear, we shall have a great deal of good company at our church to-morrow,'-- 'Perhaps we may, my dear,' returned I; 'though you need be under no uneasiness about that, you shall have a sermon whether there be or not.'-- 'That is what I expect,' returned she; 'but I think, my dear, we ought to appear there as decently as possible, for who knows what may happen ?' 'Your precautions,' replied I, 'are highly commendable.

A decent behaviour and appearance in church is what charms me.

We should be devout and humble, chearful and serene.'-- 'Yes,' cried she, 'I know that; but I mean we should go there in as proper a manner as possible; not altogether like the scrubs about us.' 'You are quite right, my dear,' returned I, 'and I was going to make the very same proposal.

The proper manner of going is, to go there as early as possible, to have time for meditation before the service begins.'-- 'Phoo, Charles,' interrupted she, 'all that is very true; but not what I would be at.