s own garden
above, where it is safer than in our keeping. 'Tis but stray fragments
and single leaves thereof that find their way down hither."

"I think so," said Robin, bitterly.

"Lad, lad! kick not against the pricks!" exclaimed Dr Thorpe, more
sternly. "God's will is the best for us. His way is the safe way, and
the only way."

"Easy to say so," answered Robin, slowly. "And it was easy to think
so--yesterday morning."

Dr Thorpe looked on him and did not reply.

"O Robin!" cried Kate, running to him from the door. "The sun is
shining again. It was raining so fast all the morn; and now the sun is
come, and all the little drops are so pretty in the sunshine. Come and
see! They are so pretty shining on the roses."

Robin rose to follow her, with the first smile (though a mournful one)
that Isoult had seen flit across his face.

"Kate is the better comforter, Dr Thorpe, and hath learned the sweeter
lesson," he said. "At least she hath learned it me. You would have me
count the chastening joyous, even at this present: God's word pointeth
to the joyousness to come. `Blessed are they that mourn,--for they
shall be comforted.'"

And he went after Kate.

For a few days more after Robin's coming all was quiet. No one came to
inquire for him, and they began to hope the worst was over. But late on
the Sunday evening, which was the seventh of July, suddenly there came a
rapping on the door. And there, to the surprise of all, stood Dr
Thorpe.

"Welcome, good friend!" said Avery; "but your occasion should be great
to have you forth this even."

"So it is," said he. "Is it not bed-time, Mrs Avery?"

"In very deed, Doctor," she answered. "We were going above but now."

"Leave the lad and the maids go, then," said he, "and you and Jack bide
a space."

So the maids and Robin departed.

"What is it, Doctor?" asked Avery, when they were gone.

"What it is, Jack," said Dr Thorpe, who sat in the corner with his hands
upon his knees, "is a great burning mountain that is at this moment
quiet. What it may be, is a great rushing and overflowing of the fiery
matter, that shall deal death all around. And what it will be--the Lord
God knoweth, and He only."

"You speak in parables, Doctor," replied Avery.

"The safest matter to speak at this time," answered he.

"You look for a new riot, an' I take you rightly."

"Hardly for a riot," the other answered. "Is the door fast?"

"I bolted it after you,"