`` Do n't worry over that . I 've thought of a great plan to explain so that everybody will know , '' said Faith . `` Just wait till to-morrow night . '' CHAPTER XII . AN EXPLANATION AND A DARE The Rev. Dr. Cooper preached in Glen St. Mary the next evening and the Presbyterian Church was crowded with people from near and far . The Reverend Doctor was reputed to be a very eloquent speaker ; and , bearing in mind the old dictum that a minister should take his best clothes to the city and his best sermons to the country , he delivered a very scholarly and impressive discourse . But when the folks went home that night it was not of Dr. Cooper 's sermon they talked . They had completely forgotten all about it . Dr. Cooper had concluded with a fervent appeal , had wiped the perspiration from his massive brow , had said `` Let us pray '' as he was famed for saying it , and had duly prayed . There was a slight pause . In Glen St. Mary church the old fashion of taking the collection after the sermon instead of before still held -- mainly because the Methodists had adopted the new fashion first , and Miss Cornelia and Elder Clow would not hear of following where Methodists had led . Charles Baxter and Thomas Douglas , whose duty it was to pass the plates , were on the point of rising to their feet . The organist had got out the music of her anthem and the choir had cleared its throat . Suddenly Faith Meredith rose in the manse pew , walked up to the pulpit platform , and faced the amazed audience . Miss Cornelia half rose in her seat and then sat down again . Her pew was far back and it occurred to her that whatever Faith meant to do or say would be half done or said before she could reach her . There was no use making the exhibition worse than it had to be . With an anguished glance at Mrs. Dr. Blythe , and another at Deacon Warren of the Methodist Church , Miss Cornelia resigned herself to another scandal . `` If the child was only dressed decently itself , '' she groaned in spirit . Faith , having spilled ink on her good dress , had serenely put on an old one of faded pink print .
A caticornered rent in the skirt had been darned with scarlet tracing cotton and the hem had been let down , showing a bright strip XXXXX unfaded pink around the skirt .
If With after as for from in of till to