s always merciful to
those who abase themselves before her,--who own their folly, and humbly
bow to her rebuke. But she has no mercy on rebels who persist in their
rebellion,--stubborn self-opinionated men, who in their incredible folly
and presumption imagine themselves capable of correcting her."

"No," answered Gerhardt in that same low voice. "She has no mercy."

"Then I hope you see how very foolish and impossible it would be for you
to adopt any other course than that of instant and complete submission?"
urged Aliz in a kinder tone.

Gerhardt rose from his seat and faced her.

"Your meaning is kind," he said, "and conscientious also. You desire
the glory of your Church, but you also feel pity for the suffering of
the human creatures who dissent from her, and are crushed under the
wheels of her triumphal car. I thank you for that pity. In the land
where one cup of cold water goeth not without its reward, it may be that
even a passing impulse of compassion is not forgotten before God. It
may at least call down some earthly blessing. But for me--my way is
clear before me, and I have but to go straight forward. I thank God
that I know my duty. Doubt is worse than pain."

"Indeed, I am thankful too," said Aliz, as she rose to take leave.
"That you should do your duty is the thing I desire.--Well, Isel, our
Lady keep you! I will send Leuesa down to-morrow or the next day."

Aliz departed, and the rest began to think of bedtime. Isel sent the
girls upstairs, then Haimet followed, and Agnes went at last. But
Gerhardt sat on, his eyes fixed on the cold hearth. It was evident that
he regarded the news which he had heard as of no slight import. He rose
at length, and walked to the window. It was only a wooden shutter,
fastened by a button, and now closed for the night. Looking round to
make sure that all had left the lower room, he threw the casement open.
But he did not see Isel, who at the moment was concealed by the red
curtain drawn half-way across the house-place, at the other end where
the ladder went up.

"Father!" he said, his eyes fixed on the darkened sky, "is the way to
Thy holy hill through this thorny path? Wheresoever Thou shalt guide, I
go with Thee. But `these are in the world!' Keep them through Thy
name, and let us meet in the Garden of God, if we may not go together.
O blessed Jesu Christ! the forget-me-nots which bloom around Thy cross
are fairer than all the flowers of the world