05-21-2022, 06:54 PM
Both Reynolds siblings got similarly few hours of sleep. Edmund had stayed out for quite a bit longer after Mable returned to the hotel, apparently lost in the winding cobblestone streets of Whitby since before sundown. Mable, for her part, stayed awake until her brother came through the door, and was then scolded for getting her clothes so thoroughly soaked.
She left out the part about being joined in the river by Father Brennan, and was only scolded more for leaving by herself after dark.
Regardless, Edmund was easily convinced to attend the church service the next morning, but the two set off later than expected, waiting until the very last minute for Mable's clothes to dry. They entered through the doors of St. Hilda's church as quietly as the hinges allowed and found seats quickly in the back rows, settling down in respectful silence for the rest of the service.
Edmund hadn't expected for Mable to take such an interest in the words Father Brennan preached, and he didn't know how to feel about it. She even brought the Bible from their hotel room along and flipped through it when her attention wandered from the tall man at the altar. Edmund did not bother. He could only just barely make sense if sermon; he would not have half as much luck reading.
Mable was eager to stand and greet Father Brennan the moment the service was over, but Edmund urged her to stay seat until the church emptied a bit. He didn't want to make a scene, or distract the Father, or push through the congregation to the front when they'd not even participated in mass. Eventually, Edmund stood and took Mable's hand as she lead him to the front, but seemed to get nervous once close to the Father.
Knowing his sister well, Edmund took the first step towards the man and smiled in an awkward greeting.
"Father Brennan. I hope we didn't interrupt with our entering." He was about to mention the state of Mable's clothes he'd returned to, but stopped. Was it appropriate to discuss such things with near strangers? Edmund wasn't sure, but he didn't think so.
"This is my sister, Mable. I - well, you saw her before, but she was quite tired. Mable, would you like to say hello?"
Instead of replying, the girl shuffled her feet from behind Edmund. "Hello, Father," she said, quiet but kind. "The service was very nice."
She left out the part about being joined in the river by Father Brennan, and was only scolded more for leaving by herself after dark.
Regardless, Edmund was easily convinced to attend the church service the next morning, but the two set off later than expected, waiting until the very last minute for Mable's clothes to dry. They entered through the doors of St. Hilda's church as quietly as the hinges allowed and found seats quickly in the back rows, settling down in respectful silence for the rest of the service.
Edmund hadn't expected for Mable to take such an interest in the words Father Brennan preached, and he didn't know how to feel about it. She even brought the Bible from their hotel room along and flipped through it when her attention wandered from the tall man at the altar. Edmund did not bother. He could only just barely make sense if sermon; he would not have half as much luck reading.
Mable was eager to stand and greet Father Brennan the moment the service was over, but Edmund urged her to stay seat until the church emptied a bit. He didn't want to make a scene, or distract the Father, or push through the congregation to the front when they'd not even participated in mass. Eventually, Edmund stood and took Mable's hand as she lead him to the front, but seemed to get nervous once close to the Father.
Knowing his sister well, Edmund took the first step towards the man and smiled in an awkward greeting.
"Father Brennan. I hope we didn't interrupt with our entering." He was about to mention the state of Mable's clothes he'd returned to, but stopped. Was it appropriate to discuss such things with near strangers? Edmund wasn't sure, but he didn't think so.
"This is my sister, Mable. I - well, you saw her before, but she was quite tired. Mable, would you like to say hello?"
Instead of replying, the girl shuffled her feet from behind Edmund. "Hello, Father," she said, quiet but kind. "The service was very nice."
