sword, however, acknowledge fighting to be wrong, and henceforth
and for ever lay aside the weapons he had handled all his life?

"But surely, friend, if thou dost acknowledge that man is formed in
God's image, it must be obvious to thee that to deface His image must be
contrary to His law and will. The world is large, and God intends it to
be peopled; whereas, by wars, the population ceases to increase, and
that happy time when hymns of praise shall ascend from all quarters of
the globe is postponed."

Mistress Mead occasionally made some telling remark to the same effect.

"Well, friend Mead, I have listened to all you have advanced," said
Christison at length, "and I cannot, as an honest man, fail to
acknowledge that you are in the main right. When next I come, I will
hear what further arguments you have to adduce; but the truth is, when I
determined to return to England, it was with the purpose of taking
service in the English army, or in that of some foreign Protestant
State, in which I hoped also to obtain employment for my son; whereas,
if I turn Quaker, I must, I see, from what you tell me, give up all such
ideas, and then how to obtain employment for him or myself I know not.
I have no wish to be idle, and as `a rolling stone gains no moss,' I
have laid by but little of this world's wealth for a rainy day, or for
my old age."

"Verily, thou must indeed give up all ideas of fighting and
blood-shedding," answered Mead. "Yet I see not that thou needst starve.
There is no lack of honest employments, if a man will but seek them.
`Thou canst not serve two masters.' Our God is a God of peace. The
devil is the god of war; and devilish work is fighting, as I can answer
from experience, and so canst thou, old comrade."

Christison sighed. "Well, well, friend," he said, "I feel you are
right, and I will think over the matter. And now it is time that I
should bid thee farewell. I have a visit to pay to a friend who lives
some way on the other side of Temple Bar, and it will be late before we
can get back to our lodgings."

Mead did not attempt to detain his friend. The young people started
when Wenlock was summoned. They were sorry the visit had so soon come
to an end.

"We shall see you again," said Mary, frankly putting out her hand, "and
then I will speak to you more of these matters."

Wenlock of course promised that he would very soon come again.
Christison and his son took their way along Cheapsid