The Maltese Angel by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson [Cookson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781451660166
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 1993-09-30T14:00:00+00:00

He paused again; then, dropping his arms and joining his hands

together, he pressed them outwards, beseeching his congregation now,

"Let us suffer this together. Let us not even discuss it among ourselves. The three men who have committed this outrage will suffer from it for the rest of their lives;

they will be ostracised by all good folk. " And now his voice rose as he ended, " As will the perpetrator who has dared to commit sacrilege in the house of God this day. That man has been a bane on this village for years, and has wrought havoc on a good-living family; he has been the means of incarcerating one of that household, and through sorrow causing the early death of the mother. Ward Gibson is an evil man and

.

Suddenly, not only the minister was now startled but also the occupants of the first rows of the select pews, as young Gerald Ramsmore almost sprang into the aisle and, facing the parson, cried, "He is not an evil man; he is a man who has been wronged. Your narrow-mindedness, sir, has helped to turn the villagers against him.

Yes, you're afraid of bringing in the police because it would show up your hypocrisy and that of many more who attend this church. And why do they attend? Let me tell you: not for the love of God, but for the fear of where you might place them in the so-called society of this community. "

A voice suddenly barked, "Be quiet! Hold your tongue, sir! I order you. Come here this minute!"

Gerald Ramsmore turned and looked at his father's florid face, and to him he said, "I am going to speak my mind. Remember, Father, I was the one who came across that child after she had been savaged by those three evil individuals." He pointed towards the men now being led into the vestry, and then flinging wide an arm, went on, "If anyone here had seen the state they left her in, they would never ... as I shall never forget the sight till the day I die."

He looked at his father again and cried, "I'll tell you this, sir: I only wish I had been asked to take a hand in . what has transpired this morning. Yes, right up to the use of the whip."

Gerald was drawn now to look at his mother, whose eyes and voice were beseeching him; her arms were about his father, steadying him, and for a moment he lowered his head. He knew he had gone too far: his father was an old man. But anyway, he had said what in justice had to be

said; and now, bringing up his head again, he marched past his people and up the aisle and out of the church, leaving behind him another kind of amazement.

Those of the congregation who were now moving out of the pews, many women being helped by their menfolk, turned once more as the vicar addressed them.

In a shaken voice, he

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.