d his earliest and most
devoted disciples among the peasants. The Brethren, on the other
hand, consisted chiefly of well-to-do townspeople, who, under their
German leaders, and by their frequent visits to Christiansfeldt and
other stations of the Herrnhutters, had attained a higher degree both
of intellectual and social culture.

But at a later period, when Hans Nilsen Hauge's revivals had overrun
the land, and had emerged from innumerable troubles; especially, too,
when Hauge's long imprisonment and subsequent death became known, as
well as the disgraceful persecution which blameless and God-fearing
people had undergone at the hands of the authorities--the movement
gained adherents among those who had hitherto looked with contempt
and aversion upon the peasant fanatics and visionaries.

All this contributed to an amalgamation of the two sects; Hauge's
followers were, moreover, always inclined to tolerance and brotherly
love when they met with living Christian faith. The Herrnhutters, on
their part, were neither strong nor numerous enough to maintain a
completely independent position, even had they desired it.

It was for such reasons that Madame Torvestad sent her daughter to
the new Haugian meeting-house; and in the same way the converts of
both persuasions came to her own small meetings. She retained certain
words and phrases which reminded those who frequented them of her
long residence in Gnadau, and she was also in the habit of reading
aloud to her guests certain small tracts which she herself had partly
translated from the German.

Madame Torvestad passed from the parlour to the workroom, where the
servant girl sat weaving steadily and skilfully. Distaffs and reels
of yarn lay about, and on the table by the window materials for
dressmaking; for this was a house where devotion was mixed up with
constant and useful work.

"Where is Henrietta?" asked Madame Torvestad.

"She went out to learn why the vessels in port have hoisted their
colours," said the girl.

"Ah, Martha, how the hearts of the young are drawn to worldly
follies!"

In the mean time, Sarah continued her work, humming a psalm tune.
This week it was her turn to manage the kitchen; she took it turn
about with the girl, for Henrietta was as yet too young.

Sarah was twenty-six years of age. Although a laborious and regular
life had made her strong and robust, she was very pale, for she
seldom went out of doors, and never farther than the churc