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felt that they deserved a substantial dinner.
When this was over Mrs. Carey went to her room to rest,
and Mr. Carey lay down on the sofa in the drawing-room
for forty winks.
They had tea at five, and the Vicar ate an egg to support
himself for evensong. Mrs. Carey did not go to this so that
Mary Ann might, but she read the service through and the
hymns. Mr. Carey walked to church in the evening, and
Philip limped along by his side. The walk through the dark-
ness along the country road strangely impressed him, and
the church with all its lights in the distance, coming gradu-
ally nearer, seemed very friendly. At first he was shy with
his uncle, but little by little grew used to him, and he would
slip his hand in his uncle’s and walk more easily for the feel-
ing of protection.
They had supper when they got home. Mr. Carey’s slip-
pers were waiting for him on a footstool in front of the fire
and by their side Philip’s, one the shoe of a small boy, the
other misshapen and odd. He was dreadfully tired when he
went up to bed, and he did not resist when Mary Ann un-
dressed him. She kissed him after she tucked him up, and
he began to love her.