11 A.M.
The subject of white fox furs seemed closed ; Missy was reluctant to re-open it because , in some intangible way , it seemed bound up with the rather awkward subject of Arthur . After supper father conversed with her about a piece she was reading in the Sunday Supplement , and seemed anxious to make her feel happy and contented . So softened was he that , when Tess telephoned and invited Missy to accompany the O'Neill family to the Methodist church that evening , he lent permission to the unusual excursion . The unusualness of it -- the Merriams performed their Sabbath devotions at 11 A.M. -- served to give Missy a greater thrill than usually attends going to church . Besides , since the Merriams were Presbyterians , going to the Methodist church held a certain novelty -- savouring of entertainment -- and diversion from the same old congregation , the same old church choir , and the same old preacher . In literal truth , also , the new Methodist preacher was not old ; he was quite young . Missy had already heard reports of him .