was planning how to betray you. Yet if
Father Bastian refused to shrive me, what should come of me? And all at
once, as I stood there hearkening, a word from the Psalter bolted in
upon me, a verse that I mind Mother caused me to learn long time agone:
`I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and so Thou
forgavest the wickedness of my sin.' Then said I to myself, What need I
trouble if the priest will not shrive me, when I can go straight unto
the Lord and confess to Him? Then came another verse, as if to answer
me, that I wist Father Bastian should have brought forth in like case,
`Whatsoever sins ye retain, they are retained,' and `Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.' I could not, I own, all at
once see my way through these. They did look to say, `Unto whom the
priest, that is the Church, denieth shrift, the same hath no forgiveness
of God.' For a minute I was staggered, till a blind man came to help me
up. Aunt Grena, you mind that blind man in the ninth chapter of Saint
John's Gospel? He was cast forth of the Church, as the Church was in
that day; and it was when our Lord heard that they had cast him forth,
that He sought him and bade him believe only on Him, the Son of God.
You marvel, Aunt, I may well see, that such meditations as these should
come to your foolish maid Gertrude. But I was at a point, and an hard
point belike. I had to consider my ways, whether I would or no, when I
came to this trackless moor, and wist not which way to go, with a
precipice nigh at hand. So now, Aunt Grena, I come to speak truth unto
you, and to confess that I have been a wicked maid and a fool; and if
you count me no more worth the serving or the saving I have demerited
that you should thus account me. Only if so be, I beseech you, save
yourself!"

Gertrude's eyes were wet as she turned away.

Grena followed her and drew the girl into her arms.

"My child," she said, "I never held thee so well worth love and care as
now. So be it; we will go to Shardeford."

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

WHEREOF THE HERO IS JACK.

"Ay, we must go, then," said Mr Roberts, with a long-drawn sigh. "This
discovery leaves us no choice. For howso God and we may pardon the
child, Father Bastian will not so. We must go ere he find it out, and
leave Primrose Croft to his fate."

"Father!" exclaimed Gertrude suddenly, "I beseech you, hear me. Uncle
Anthony conforms, and he is kindly-hearted as ma