seven o'clock in the evening
Where can the people be going ? Do you suppose it is a fire ? Why , I believe ... it can not be possible ... yes , they certainly are disappearing in that big church on the corner ; and millions , simply millions and trillions , are coming in the other direction , -- toward St. Knox 's . '' Impressive as was this morning church-going , a still greater surprise awaited us at seven o'clock in the evening , when the crowd blocked the streets on two sides of a church near Breadalbane Terrace ; and though it was quite ten minutes before service when we entered , Salemina and I only secured the last two seats in the aisle , and Francesca was obliged to sit on the steps of the pulpit or seek a sermon elsewhere . It amused me greatly to see Francesca sitting on pulpit steps , her Paris gown and smart toque in close juxtaposition to the rusty bonnet and bombazine dress of a respectable elderly tradeswoman . The church officer entered first , bearing the great Bible and hymn-book , which he reverently placed on the pulpit cushions ; and close behind him , to our entire astonishment , came the Reverend Ronald Macdonald , evidently exchanging with the regular minister of the parish , whom we had come especially to hear . I pitied Francesca 's confusion and embarrassment , but I was too far from her to offer an exchange of seats , and through the long service she sat there at the feet of her foe , so near that she could have touched the hem of his gown as he knelt devoutly for his first silent prayer .