The meal proceeded in silence. Darius, as in duty bound, mentioned the
sermon, but neither Clara nor Edwin would have anything to do with the
sermon, and Maggie had not been to chapel. Clara and Edwin felt
themselves free of piety till six o'clock at least, and they doggedly
would not respond. And Darius from prudence did not insist, for he had
arrived at chapel unthinkably late--during the second chant--and Clara
was capable of audacious remarks upon occasions. The silence grew
stolid.
And Edwin wondered what the dinner-table of the Orgreaves was like. And
he could smell fresh mortar. And he dreamed of a romantic life--he knew
not what kind of life, but something different fundamentally from his
own. He suddenly understood, understood with sympathy, the impulse
which had made boys run away to sea. He could feel the open sea; he
could feel the breath of freedom on his cheek.