But I had been so sure he would understand ! Aunt Philippa never made any further reference to the reason Father had sent me to her , but she allowed no day to pass without holding up to me some horrible example of matrimonial infelicity . The number of unhappy wives who walked or drove past `` Philippa 's Farm '' every afternoon , as we sat on the verandah , was truly pitiable . We always sat on the verandah in the afternoon , when we were not visiting or being visited . I made a pretence of fancy work , and Aunt Philippa spun diligently on a little old-fashioned spinning-wheel that had been her grandmother 's . She always sat before the wood stand which held her flowers , and the gorgeous blots of geranium blossom and big green leaves furnished a pretty background . She always wore her shapeless but clean print wrappers , and her iron-grey hair was always combed neatly down over her ears . Joseph sat between us , sleeping or purring . She spun so expertly that she could keep a close watch on the road as well , and I got the biography of every individual who went by . As for the poor young Methodist minister , who liked to read or walk on the verandah of our neighbour 's house , Aunt Philippa never had a good word for him . I had met him once or twice socially and had liked him . I wanted to ask him to call but dared not -- Aunt Philippa had vowed he should never enter her house . `` If I was dead and he came to my funeral I 'd rise up and order him out , '' she said . `` I thought he made a very nice prayer at Mrs. Seaman 's funeral the other day , '' I said . `` Oh , I 've no doubt he can pray . I never heard anyone make more beautiful prayers than old Simon Kennedy down at the harbour , who was always drunk or hoping to be -- and the drunker he was the better he prayed . It ai n't no matter how well a man prays if his preaching is n't right . That Methodist man preaches a lot of things that ai n't true , and what 's worse they ai n't sound doctrine . At least , that 's what I 've heard . I never was in a Methodist church , thank goodness . ''
`` Do n't you think Methodists go XXXXX heaven as well as Presbyterians , Aunt Philippa ? ''
At as between by if of on over past to