hing. Oft-times have Master Carew and I sat reading of that book
whenever I could make an errand unto his neighbourhood; and he hath
taught me many things. But I cannot say yet that I be where you be,
Mistress Margery," he added, calling her by the old familiar title, "or
that I know Christ as friendly as you seem to know Him."

"Then," said Margery, earnestly, "let not go your grasp till you have
fast hold of Him. Ah! what matter how soon or how sore cometh the end,
if `_whanne He hath loued Hise that ben in the world, into the ende He
loueth them_.' [John xiii. 1.] O dear friend, count not anything lost
if thou keepest Christ His love! If He shall come unto thee and say of
aught by which thou settest store, as He did say unto Peter, `_Louest_
_thou me more than these_?' let thine answer be his, `_Che, Lord, Thou
woost that I loue Thee_!' [John xxi. 15.] Oh count not aught too rare
or too brave for to give Christ! `_He that loueth his lyf schal leese
it; and he that hatith his lyf in this world, kepith it unto
everlastinge lyf_.' [John xii. 25.] No man loseth by that chepe
[exchange, bargain] of life worldly for life everlasting. Never shall
the devils have leave to say, `Behold here a man who hath lost by
Christ!'"

"Must we needs give Christ _all_?" said Richard, in an unsteady tone.

"Is there a thing that thou wouldst keep from Him?--a thing that thou
lovest more than thou lovest Him? Then it will be no marvel that thou
shouldst lose the same. Trust me, if His heart be set on thee, He will
either have thy heart away from it by thy good will, or will have it
away from thy heart by bitter rending and sorrow. And alas for that man
who hath no portion in Christ His heart!"

Richard answered almost in a whisper, and bent forward to take Margery's
hand as he did so. The spell was fully broken now.

"There was only one thing, and He hath taken it. Margery, I loved
_you_. I had given readily all else but you. And I trow you will count
it but a sorry [poor, unworthy] giving, wherein the heart goeth not with
the hands."

She turned her head hastily away, and made no answer; but he felt her
hand grow deathly cold in his own. He dropped it, and rose--and so did
she. She went with him to the door; and there, as she offered her hand
for a farewell greeting, she spoke--

"Richard, God hath parted thee and me, and whatsoever God doth He doth
wed. If it were as thou sayest, there was need thereof. When ch