Chapter VII

by William Somerset Maugham

　　Sunday was a day crowded with incident. Mr. Carey was accustomed to saythat he was the only man in his parish who worked seven days a week.The household got up half an hour earlier than usual. No lying abed for apoor parson on the day of rest, Mr. Carey remarked as Mary Ann knocked atthe door punctually at eight. It took Mrs. Carey longer to dress, and shegot down to breakfast at nine, a little breathless, only just before herhusband. Mr. Carey's boots stood in front of the fire to warm. Prayerswere longer than usual, and the breakfast more substantial. Afterbreakfast the Vicar cut thin slices of bread for the communion, and Philipwas privileged to cut off the crust. He was sent to the study to fetch amarble paperweight, with which Mr. Carey pressed the bread till it wasthin and pulpy, and then it was cut into small squares. The amount wasregulated by the weather. On a very bad day few people came to church, andon a very fine one, though many came, few stayed for communion. There weremost when it was dry enough to make the walk to church pleasant, but notso fine that people wanted to hurry away.Then Mrs. Carey brought the communion plate out of the safe, which stoodin the pantry, and the Vicar polished it with a chamois leather. At tenthe fly drove up, and Mr. Carey got into his boots. Mrs. Carey tookseveral minutes to put on her bonnet, during which the Vicar, in avoluminous cloak, stood in the hall with just such an expression on hisface as would have become an early Christian about to be led into thearena. It was extraordinary that after thirty years of marriage his wifecould not be ready in time on Sunday morning. At last she came, in blacksatin; the Vicar did not like colours in a clergyman's wife at any time,but on Sundays he was determined that she should wear black; now and then,in conspiracy with Miss Graves, she ventured a white feather or a pinkrose in her bonnet, but the Vicar insisted that it should disappear; hesaid he would not go to church with the scarlet woman: Mrs. Carey sighedas a woman but obeyed as a wife. They were about to step into the carriagewhen the Vicar remembered that no one had given him his egg. They knewthat he must have an egg for his voice, there were two women in the house,and no one had the least regard for his comfort. Mrs. Carey scolded MaryAnn, and Mary Ann answered that she could not think of everything. Shehurried away to fetch an egg, and Mrs. Carey beat it up in a glass ofsherry. The Vicar swallowed it at a gulp. The communion plate was stowedin the carriage, and they set off.The fly came from The Red Lion and had a peculiar smell of stale straw.They drove with both windows closed so that the Vicar should not catchcold. The sexton was waiting at the porch to take the communion plate, andwhile the Vicar went to the vestry Mrs. Carey and Philip settledthemselves in the vicarage pew. Mrs. Carey placed in front of her thesixpenny bit she was accustomed to put in the plate, and gave Philipthreepence for the same purpose. The church filled up gradually and theservice began.Philip grew bored during the sermon, but if he fidgetted Mrs. Carey put agentle hand on his arm and looked at him reproachfully. He regainedinterest when the final hymn was sung and Mr.Graves passed round with theplate.When everyone had gone Mrs. Carey went into Miss Graves' pew to have a fewwords with her while they were waiting for the gentlemen, and Philip wentto the vestry. His uncle, the curate, and Mr. Graves were still in theirsurplices. Mr. Carey gave him the remains of the consecrated bread andtold him he might eat it. He had been accustomed to eat it himself, as itseemed blasphemous to throw it away, but Philip's keen appetite relievedhim from the duty. Then they counted the money. It consisted of pennies,sixpences and threepenny bits. There were always two single shillings, oneput in the plate by the Vicar and the other by Mr. Graves; and sometimesthere was a florin. Mr. Graves told the Vicar who had given this. It wasalways a stranger to Blackstable, and Mr. Carey wondered who he was. ButMiss Graves had observed the rash act and was able to tell Mrs. Carey thatthe stranger came from London, was married and had children. During thedrive home Mrs. Carey passed the information on, and the Vicar made up hismind to call on him and ask for a subscription to the Additional CuratesSociety. Mr. Carey asked if Philip had behaved properly; and Mrs. Careyremarked that Mrs. Wigram had a new mantle, Mr. Cox was not in church, andsomebody thought that Miss Phillips was engaged. When they reached thevicarage they all felt that they deserved a substantial dinner.When this was over Mrs. Carey went to her room to rest, and Mr. Carey laydown on the sofa in the drawing-room for forty winks.They had tea at five, and the Vicar ate an egg to support himself forevensong. Mrs. Carey did not go to this so that Mary Ann might, but sheread the service through and the hymns. Mr. Carey walked to church in theevening, and Philip limped along by his side. The walk through thedarkness along the country road strangely impressed him, and the churchwith all its lights in the distance, coming gradually nearer, seemed veryfriendly. At first he was shy with his uncle, but little by little grewused to him, and he would slip his hand in his uncle's and walk moreeasily for the feeling of protection.They had supper when they got home. Mr. Carey's slippers were waiting forhim on a footstool in front of the fire and by their side Philip's, onethe shoe of a small boy, the other misshapen and odd. He was dreadfullytired when he went up to bed, and he did not resist when Mary Annundressed him. She kissed him after she tucked him up, and he began tolove her.