noon
He had read each of all these sermons , at least once , to a congregation , with perfect composure and following indifference , if not peace of mind , but now he could not come on one with which he was even in sympathy -- not to say one of which he was certain that it was more true than false . At last he took up the odd one -- that which could come into use but once in a week of years -- and this was the sermon Bascombe heard and commented upon . Having read it over , and found nothing to compromise him with his conscience , which was like an irritable man trying to find his way in a windy wood by means of a broken lantern , he laid all the rest aside and felt a little relieved . Wingfold had never neglected the private duty of a clergyman in regard of morning and evening devotions , but was in the habit of dressing and undressing his soul with the help of certain chosen contents of the prayer-book -- a somewhat circuitous mode of communicating with Him who was so near him , -- that is , if St. Paul was right in saying that he lived , and moved , and was , IN Him ; but that Saturday he knelt by his bedside at noon , and began to pray or try to pray as he had never prayed or tried to pray before . The perplexed man cried out within the clergyman , and pressed for some acknowledgment from God of the being he had made . But -- was it strange to tell ? or if strange , was it not the most natural result nevertheless ?