Earth-stars gleamed warmly out here and there , where homesteads were tucked snugly away in their orchards or groves of birch . `` The church will be jammed to-night , '' said Eben . `` It 's so fine that folks will come from near and far . Guess it 'll be exciting . '' `` If only father would testify ! '' sighed Mollie , from the bottom of the pung , where she was snuggled amid furs and straw . `` Miriam can say what she likes , but I do feels as if we were all disgraced . It sends a creep all over me to hear Mr. Bentley say , ` Now , is n't there one more to say a word for Jesus ? ' and look right over at father . '' Eben flicked his mare with his whip , and she broke into a trot . The silence was filled with a faint , fairy-like melody from afar down the road where a pungful of young folks from White Sands were singing hymns on their way to meeting . `` Look here , Mollie , '' said Eben awkwardly at last , `` are you going to stand up for prayers to-night ? '' `` I -- I ca n't as long as father acts this way , '' answered Mollie , in a choked voice . `` I -- I want to , Eb , and Mirry and Bob want me to , but I ca n't . I do hope that the evangelist wo n't come and talk to me special to-night . I always feels as if I was being pulled two different ways , when he does . '' Back in the kitchen at home Mrs. Bell was waiting for her husband to bring the horse to the door . She was a slight , dark-eyed little woman , with thin , vivid-red cheeks . From out of the swathings in which she had wrapped her bonnet , her face gleamed sad and troubled . Now and then she sighed heavily .
The cat came XXXXX her from under the stove , languidly stretching himself , and yawning until all the red cavern of his mouth and throat was revealed .
If amid as down from of on over that to