owlet, and, Madam Bubble and
her three daughters make a ring round you, what do you do? Do you ever
take to your knees? Really and honestly, do you? When you find yourself
out looking with holy fear on a rich and lofty relation, and with
insufferable contempt on a poor and intrusive relation, by what name do
you call yourself? Write it down. And when she would fain put variance
between you and those who do not think well of you, what steps do you
take to foil her? Where and how do you get strength at that supreme
moment to think of others as you would have them think of you? "Oh,"
said Standfast, "what a mercy it is that I did resist her! for to what
might she not have drawn me?"

GAIUS

"Gaius, mine host."--_Paul_.

Goodman Gaius was the head of a hostel that stood on the side of the
highway well on to the Celestial City. The hostess of the hostel was no
more, and the old hostel-keeper did all her once well-done work and his
own proper work into the bargain. Every day he inspected the whole house
with his own eyes, down even to the kitchen and the scullery. The good
woman had left our host an only daughter; but, "Keep her as much out of
sight as is possible," she said, and so fell asleep. And Gaius
remembered his wife's last testament every day, till none of the hostel
customers knew that there was so much as a young hostess in all the
house. "Yes, gentlemen," replied the old innkeeper. "Yes, come in. It
is late, but I take you for true men, for you must know that my house is
kept open only for such." So he took the large pilgrim party to their
several apartments with his own eyes, and then set about a supper for
those so late arrivals. Stamping with his foot, he brought up the cook
with the euphonious and eupeptic name, and that quick-witted domestic
soon had a supper on the table that would have made a full man's mouth
water. "The sight of all this," said Matthew, as the under-cook laid the
cloth and the trenchers, and set the salt and the bread in order--"the
sight of this cloth and of this forerunner of a supper begetteth in me a
greater appetite to my food than I thought I had before." So supper came
up; and first a heave-shoulder and a wave-breast were set on the table
before them, in order to show that they must begin their meal with prayer
and praise to God. These two dishes were very fresh and good, and all
the travellers did eat heartily well thereof. The next was a bottle of