e truth at once," thought Wenlock. He
did so.

"And is this English girl very, very pretty," asked Gretchen; and her
voice trembled slightly.

"I thought her so when we parted; and amiable, and right-minded, and
pious I know she is."

"Ah!" said Gretchen, "I should like to see her while she remains in this
city."

The next morning Wenlock set out to pay his promised visit to his Quaker
friends. Master Mead met him at the door of the house.

"Come in; Mary will see thee," he said; and taking him upstairs, he led
him into a room, at the farther end of which a young lady was seated
with a book before her. She rose as her father and their visitor
entered, and gave an inquiring glance at Wenlock, apparently at first
scarcely knowing him. Another look assured her who it was, but no smile
lighted up her countenance. She advanced, however, and held out her
hand. "Thou art welcome, Master Christison," she said; "and I rejoice
to find that thou didst escape the sad fate we heard had overtaken thee.
And yet, was it kind to leave old friends who were interested in thee,
albeit thou didst differ from them in opinion, without knowing of thy
existence?" Her voice, which had hitherto remained firm, began to
tremble.

"Oh, no, no, Mary!" exclaimed Wenlock. "I cannot blame myself too much.
Yet I did write; but I ought to have written again and again, till I
heard from you. I should have known that the risk of a letter
miscarrying was very great."

"Yea; verily thou ought to have put more confidence in us," said Mary.

Then Wenlock again blamed himself, and Mary showed herself before long
inclined to be more lenient than her manner had at first led him to hope
she might prove.

Penn and his party remained for some days at Rotterdam, holding numerous
meetings. Many among the most educated of the inhabitants,--officers of
the government, merchants, and others,--came to hear them preach; while
many of the principal houses of the place were thrown open to them.
Among other converts was Wenlock's employer, Mynheer Van Erk, as was
also his kind friend the surgeon and his family. Gretchen and Mary met
frequently. "You have not over praised the English maiden," said the
former to Wenlock. "I hope you will be fortunate in regaining her
regard; for it is clear to me that you still look on her with
affection."

Penn, with three of his companions, proceeded on their tour through
Holland and part of Germany, gaining many pro