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"Thank you, Lord," the children said in unison

"Now let us bow our heads and pray silently"

While the others prayed, Samantha heard the front doors of the church open As expected, Prudence slipped into the last row of seats San of recognition So she was still upset; this would be harder than Saan her ser, disjointed speech punctuated with frustrated sighs She finished by saying, "Well then, I'm sure you all knohat Ithe Lord's Prayer"

Saet Prudence alone after services, but Miss Brigham took her arm before she could leave "Could you lead the children's lesson today, dear? I' a bit out of sorts today I don't think that stew last night sat ithfor us Not that I' Phyllis is a bad cook-"

"I knohat you mean," Samantha said "I can handle the lessons"

"Thank you, dear I don't knohat I would do without you"

Sa we need to talk about"

"Oh, I see I suppose I knohat this is about" Miss Brigham motioned for Samantha to sit down next to her on the front pew "I suppose you want to go to the mainland to look for your family I can't say as I blame you They are your family, after all I should think if I still had a fao look for them Oh how surprised they would be when they saw ed me to stop"

"So you understand then?"

"Of course I do, dear But are you sure now is the right tiot Prudence and Rebecca and David to help you e them You don't need me anying the children They look up to you They adet by without me"

"Perhaps we can, but I would hate to lose you And crossing the sea is so dangerous"

"Mr Pryde did it If he can, then so can I"

"Mr Pryde was a irl The sea is no place for a little girl all by herself"

"Couldn't you coerous then, would it?"