`` I guess Cecily 's prayer had more to do with Pat 's getting better than Peg Bowen , '' said Felicity . `` She prayed for Pat over and over again . That is why he 's better . '' `` Oh , all right , '' said Peter , `` but I 'd advise Pat not to scratch Peg Bowen again , that 's all . '' `` I wish I knew whether it was the praying or Peg Bowen that cured Pat , '' said Felix in perplexity . `` I do n't believe it was either of them , '' said Dan . `` Pat just got sick and got better again of his own accord . '' `` I 'm going to believe that it was the praying , '' said Cecily decidedly . `` It 's so much nicer to believe that God cured Pat than that Peg Bowen did . '' `` But you ought n't to believe a thing just 'cause it would be more comfortable , '' objected Peter . `` Mind you , I ai n't saying God could n't cure Pat . But nothing and nobody ca n't ever make me believe that Peg Bowen was n't at the bottom of it all . '' Thus faith , superstition , and incredulity strove together amongst us , as in all history . CHAPTER XXV . A CUP OF FAILURE One warm Sunday evening in the moon of golden-rod , we all , grown-ups and children , were sitting in the orchard by the Pulpit Stone singing sweet old gospel hymns . We could all sing more or less , except poor Sara Ray , who had once despairingly confided to me that she did n't know what she 'd ever do when she went to heaven , because she could n't sing a note . That whole scene comes out clearly for me in memory -- the arc of primrose sky over the trees behind the old house , the fruit-laden boughs of the orchard , the bank of golden-rod , like a wave of sunshine , behind the Pulpit Stone , the nameless colour seen on a fir wood in a ruddy sunset . I can see Uncle Alec 's tired , brilliant , blue eyes , Aunt Janet 's wholesome , matronly face , Uncle Roger 's sweeping blond beard and red cheeks , and Aunt Olivia 's full-blown beauty . Two voices ring out for me above all others in the music that echoes through the halls of recollection . Cecily 's sweet and silvery , and Uncle Alec 's fine tenor .
`` If you 're a King , you sing , '' was a Carlisle proverb XXXXX those days .
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