A beautiful sermon it was , too -- and everybody in church thinking ` what a pity you ca n't practise what you preach . ' '' Miss Cornelia did Mr. Meredith an injustice in thinking he would soon forget what she had told him . He went home much disturbed and when the children came from Rainbow Valley that night , at a much later hour than they should have been prowling in it , he called them into his study . They went in , somewhat awed . It was such an unusual thing for their father to do . What could he be going to say to them ? They racked their memories for any recent transgression of sufficient importance , but could not recall any . Carl had spilled a saucerful of jam on Mrs. Peter Flagg 's silk dress two evenings before , when , at Aunt Martha 's invitation , she had stayed to supper . But Mr. Meredith had not noticed it , and Mrs. Flagg , who was a kindly soul , had made no fuss . Besides , Carl had been punished by having to wear Una 's dress all the rest of the evening . Una suddenly thought that perhaps her father meant to tell them that he was going to marry Miss West . Her heart began to beat violently and her legs trembled . Then she saw that Mr. Meredith looked very stern and sorrowful . No , it could not be that . `` Children , '' said Mr. Meredith , `` I have heard something that has pained me very much . Is it true that you sat out in the graveyard all last Thursday evening and sang ribald songs while a prayer meeting was being held in the Methodist church ? '' `` Great Caesar , Dad , we forgot all about it being their prayer meeting night , '' exclaimed Jerry in dismay . `` Then it is true -- you did do this thing ? '' `` Why , Dad , I do n't know what you mean by ribald songs . We sang hymns -- it was a sacred concert , you know .
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