`` There are so many hypocrites in this church that it is n't fit for decent people to come to , '' she said . `` Rather than be such hypocrites as most of you are it would be better for you to go miles into the woods and commit suicide . '' Wheeling about , she strode to the door . Then she turned for a Parthian shot . `` I 've felt kind of worried for God sometimes , seeing He has so much to attend to , '' she said , `` but I see I need n't be , so long 's there 's plenty of ministers to tell Him what to do . '' With that Peg shook the dust of Carlisle church from her feet . Poor Mr. Davidson resumed his discourse . Old Elder Bayley , whose attention an earthquake could not have distracted from the sermon , afterwards declared that it was an excellent and edifying exhortation , but I doubt if anyone else in Carlisle church tasted it much or gained much good therefrom . Certainly we of the King household did not . We could not even remember the text when we reached home . Felicity was comfortless . `` Mr. Davidson would be sure to think she belonged to our family when she was in our pew , '' she said bitterly . `` Oh , I feel as if I could never get over such a mortification ! Peter , I do wish you would n't go telling people they ought to go to church . It 's all your fault that this happened . '' `` Never mind , it will be a good story to tell sometime , '' remarked the Story Girl with relish . CHAPTER XXII . THE YANKEE STORM In an August orchard six children and a grown-up were sitting around the pulpit stone . The grown-up was Miss Reade , who had been up to give the girls their music lesson and had consented to stay to tea , much to the rapture of the said girls , who continued to worship her with unabated and romantic ardour . To us , over the golden grasses , came the Story Girl , carrying in her hand a single large poppy , like a blood-red chalice filled with the wine of August wizardry .
She proffered it to Miss XXXXX and , as the latter took it into her singularly slender , beautiful hand , I saw a ring on her third finger .
Bayley Carlisle Felicity King Peter Reade YANKEE earthquake pew wizardry