Good father, shall Christ the Son
of God teach evil? Doth God evil? Will God deceive them that ask Him
truth? Knoweth He not as much as fathers of the Church? Nay truly,
good father, I trust that you wot not fully what you have said. He is
`_weye, treuthe, and lyf; no man cometh to the Fadir but by Him_.'"
[John xiv. 6.]

Abbot Bilson, for once in his life, was completely dumb-foundered. He
looked silently at Lord Marnell.

"I pray you see now, reverend father," said Lord Marnell, angrily, "how
the teaching of this book hath leavened yon girl's talk! Is it a small
evil, Madge, to turn upon thy teacher when he teacheth thee of wisdom,
with sayings picked up from a book? Art not ashamed?"

"No, my Lord, I am no wise shamed," answered she; "for the reverend
father teacheth me the words of men, and the words of my book be the
words of Christ; and when Christ and men come to warring, I trow there
is small doubt as to who shall be the winner."

The Abbot sat mutely gazing at Margery. Her face, usually so calm and
pale, was lighted up, as she spoke, with a light not of this world; and
he could not comprehend it. Had she asked pardon, he could have soothed
her; had she lamented and bewailed, he might have promised her many
things to comfort her; had she spoken bitterly or passionately, he might
have commanded her silence. But this conduct of hers, so quiet, yet so
decided--so gentle, but so uncompromising--puzzled him extremely. He
only saw the exterior, and he could not discover that wherein her great
strength lay.

"My Lord Marnell," he said, in a perplexed tone, "I would speak with
you. Good lady, will you give us leave?"

Margery rose, and, courtesying, quitted the room at once; but she took
the book with her, and nobody prevented her from doing so.

"My Lord," said the Abbot, when she was gone, "I am bewildered utterly.
I know not what to do with this girl. Never the like of her saw I
before, and my experience is baffled. But meseemeth that the best thing
is to treat her gently at the first; and if she relent not, _then_--"

The sentence was left unfinished, but Lord Marnell understood it.

CHAPTER SIX.

NEWS FROM HOME.

"There are briars besetting every path,
That call for patient care;
There is a cross in every lot,
And an earnest need for prayer;
But a lowly heart that leans on Thee
Is happy anywhere."

Miss Waring.

It was a lovely, clear, moonlight night, and the s