hat you be anything like en," assured Mrs. Pethick. "Aw, my deear,
'ee was as pale as a ghost, and as thin as a coot, 'ee was. Not but wot
'ee was a fine 'an'some gen'leman, for oal that. 'Twas, lev me zee, six
years agone this last spring. Aw, 'ee ded talk funny, he ded. He zed 'ee
loved the devil, 'ee ded, and towld me 'ow the devil tempted un to go to
Crazzick pool, and sink, and sink, and sink, and thus find paice."

"And what did you say to him?"

"I towld un that 'ee'd never find no paice that way. Ther's no paice
'cept in the dear Lord. I'm sorry you be'ant a perfessin' Christian,
sur."

It did not seem strange to Leicester that she should talk in this way.
It seemed natural to her. Besides, in the rural parts of Cornwall and
Devonshire, religion is the main topic of conversation among those who
love the little roadside chapels.

"Well, as I was a-sayin'," she went on, "this gen'l'man ded zay funny
things. He zed 'ee'd nuther father, nor mawther, nor wife, nor
sweetheart, and that he ded'n care nothin' 'bout livin'. And then all
ov a sudden he axed me wot I wud do ef I wos in his plaace."

"And what did you tell him?" asked Leicester.

"I towld 'im that he must seek the Lord, and fight the devil. Ther's no
other way fer et, sur."

"And did he, do you think?"

"I'm feard not, sur. For afterwards it comed to me who he was. I d'
believe he was the gen'leman who tried to git into Parliament for
Taviton. I s'pose 'ee wos a awful character. He decaived 'is young
laady, he was a ter'ble drunkard, and then afterwards, he thrawed
hisself in the revver up to London. 'Twa'sn' he that ded conquer the
devil, but the devil conquered he. Ah well, the poor thing es ded now ef
'twas 'ee; 'tes a sad pity."

"And do you believe if he'd sought the Lord, as you call it, that he
would have conquered the devil?"

"I doan't believe, sur, I'm sure."

Again Leicester became interested in the country-woman's simple talk.
There was such a ring of sincerity in her voice, that he could not but
be respectful.

"Mrs. Pethick," he said, "I've been in many countries, and known many
religions, but I don't find that the devil is easily killed."

"The Lord Jesus can do et, sur."

"How do you know?"

"Knaw, sur! I do knaw the difference in my heart before I was converted,
and after. Besides, there was Aaron Goudge; you doan't know Aaron
Goudge, I s'poase?"

"No, I don't know him."

"Well, ef you do look out of the winder you ca