man die, only because she had been
merciful to a man that was his enemy. I went about like one distracted,
seeking help where there was no help, and it was only when I went to the
gaol and saw Elizabeth herself--which I was permitted to do for a
farewell--that I found any comfort.

"We must all die one day," she said, "and why not now, in a good cause?"

"Is it a good cause," I cried, "to die for one that is a coward, a
villain, a traitor?"

"Nay," she answered, "you mistake. I die for the cause of charity. I die
to fulfil my Master's command of kindness and mercy."

"But the man was unworthy," I repeated.

"What of that? The love is worthy that would have helped him; the
charity is worthy that would have served him. Gladly do I die for having
lived in love and charity. They are the courts of God's holy house. They
are filled full of peace and joy. In their peace and joy may I abide
until God receives me, unworthy, into His inner temple."

"But the horror of the death! Oh, how can you bear it?"

"God will show me how when the time comes," she said, with the
simplicity of a perfect faith.

[Sidenote: Death by Fire]

And of a truth He did show her; for they that stood by her at the last
testified how her high courage did not fail; no, nor her joy either; for
she laid the straw about her cheerfully for her burning, and thanked God
that she was permitted to die in this cruel manner for a religion that
was all love.

I could not endure to watch that which she could suffer joyfully, but at
first I remained in the outskirts of the crowd. When I pressed forward
after and saw her bound there--she that had sat at meals with me and
lain in my bed at night--and that they were about to put a torch to the
faggots and kindle them, I fell back in a swoon. Some that were merciful
pulled me out of the throng, and cast water upon me; and William Penn
the Quaker, that stood by (whom I knew by sight--and a strange show this
was that he had come with the rest to look upon), spoke to me kindly,
and bid me away to my home, seeing that I had no courage for such
dreadful sights.

So I hurried away, ashamed of my own cowardice, and weeping sorely,
leaving behind me the tumult of the crowd, and smelling in the air the
smoke of the kindled faggots. I put my fingers in my ears and ran back
to the empty house: there to fall on my knees, to pray to God for mercy
for myself, and to cry aloud against the cruelty of men.

Then there happen