to them,--and speaking louder, he added:
'Brethren, God will strengthen me when the time comes, when such
resignation as you speak of is needed. Till then I cannot feel it; and
what I do not feel I will not express; using words as if they were a
charm.' He was getting chafed, I could see. He had rather put them out
by these speeches of his; but after a short time and some more shakes
of the head, Robinson began again,--

'Secondly, we would have you listen to the voice of the rod, and ask
yourself for what sins this trial has been laid upon you; whether you
may not have been too much given up to your farm and your cattle;
whether this world's learning has not puffed you up to vain conceit and
neglect of the things of God; whether you have not made an idol of your
daughter?'

'I cannot answer--I will not answer'.' exclaimed the minister. 'My sins
I confess to God. But if they were scarlet (and they are so in His
sight),' he added, humbly, 'I hold with Christ that afflictions are not
sent by God in wrath as penalties for sin.'

'Is that orthodox, Brother Robinson?' asked the third minister, in a
deferential tone of inquiry.

Despite the minister's injunction not to leave him, I thought matters
were getting so serious that a little homely interruption would be more
to the purpose than my continued presence, and I went round to the
kitchen to ask for Betty's help.

''Od rot 'em!' said she; 'they're always a-coming at ill-convenient
times; and they have such hearty appetites, they'll make nothing of
what would have served master and you since our poor lass has been ill.
I've but a bit of cold beef in th' house; but I'll do some ham and
eggs, and that 'll rout 'em from worrying the minister. They're a deal
quieter after they've had their victual. Last time as old Robinson
came, he was very reprehensible upon master's learning, which he
couldn't compass to save his life, so he needn't have been afeard of
that temptation, and used words long enough to have knocked a body
down; but after me and missus had given him his fill of victual, and
he'd had some good ale and a pipe, he spoke just like any other man,
and could crack a joke with me.'

Their visit was the only break in the long weary days and nights. I do
not mean that no other inquiries were made. I believe that all the
neighbours hung about the place daily till they could learn from some
out-comer how Phillis Holman was. But they knew better than to come up
to the