108	THE  STORY OF MY LIFE	[1340
gation. But in those days, now considered so benighted, there was sometimes real devotion. People sometimes said real prayers even in church, before the times since which the poor in the village churches are so frequently compelled to say their prayers to music. The curates always came to luncheon at the Rectory on Sundays. They were

STOKE  CHURCH.
always compelled to come in ignominiously at the back door, lest they should dirty the entrance: only Mr. Egerton was allowed to come in at the front door, because'he was "a gentleman born/7 How Grannie used to bully the curates! They were expected not to talk at luncheon, if they did they were soon put down. " Tea-table theology " was unknown in those days. As soon as the curates had