sking Palmer--"

"Mr Underhill!" exclaimed Isoult, "knew you Sir Thomas Palmer?"

"Knew him?" said he; "yea, on my word, did I, and have lost many a broad
shilling to him, and many a gold noble to boot. Ay," he pursued, for
him very sadly, "there were a parcel of losels [profligates] of us, that
swallowed down iniquity like water, in that old time. And now--
Partridge is dead, and Palmer is dead, and Bagenall is yet as he was
then. And wherefore God should have touched the heart of one of the
worst of those sinners, named Edward Underhill"--(and he rose, and
lifted his cap from his head, as he looked on high)--"Lord, Thou hast
mercy on whom Thou wilt have mercy!"

Isoult thought she had never heard Mr Underhill speak so solemnly
before.

When Dr Thorpe came from the barber's, on the 4th of February, he looked
very thoughtful and pensive.

"What news abroad, Doctor?" inquired Isoult.

"The first drop of the thunder-shower, child," he answered. "This
morrow Mr Prebendary Rogers was burned in Smithfield."

"Gramercy!" cried John. "I saw flame shoot up beyond the gate, and I
thought there was some fire near Newgate. I never thought of _that_
fire."

In the evening came Austin, who had been last with the martyr. Isoult
asked him if he suffered much.

"I would say, no," replied he. "He died very quietly, washing his hands
in the flame as it rose. His wife and his eleven childre (one born
sithence he was put in prison) met him in his last journey."

"God help them, poor souls!" cried Isoult.

"When Sheriff Woodroofe said he was an heretic," pursued he, "he said,
`That shall be known at the Day of Judgment.' Then said he, `I will
never pray for thee.' `But I will pray for you,' he answered. He sang
_Miserere_ by the way, and refused the pardon which was offered him."

"Is it _very_ fearful, Austin," said Isoult, "to see any burn?"

"Only not so," he answered, his face changing, "when you think of the
Home whereto they are going, and of the glorious welcome which Christ
the King shall give them."

"And what think you?" said John. "Shall there be yet more burnings, or
is this merely to strike terror, and shall stand alone?"

"I think," replied he, "nor am I alone in my thought,--that it is the
first drop of the thunder-storm."

Isoult was struck by his use of the very words of Dr Thorpe.

"Ill times these," remarked Mr Underhill, entering the Lamb, ten days
later.

"Ill, in very sooth," said Dr