back! I cannot but think every moment shall make it more terrible to
bear. And if one held not fast, but bought life, as soon as the fire
were felt, by denying the truth! I am feared, dear heart! I'm feared."

"It shall do thee no hurt to be feared of thyself, only lose not thine
hold on God. `Hold _Thou_ me up, and I shall be safe.' But that should
not be, buying life, Bessy, but selling it."

"I know it should be bartering the life eternal, for the sake of a few
years, at most, of this lower life. Yet life is main sweet, Bessy, and
we are young. `All that a man hath will he give for his life.'"

"Think not on the life, Rose, nor on what thou givest, but alone on Him
for whom thou givest it. Is He not worth the pain and the loss?
Couldst thou bear to lose _Him_?--Him, who endured the bitter rood
[Cross] rather than lose thee. That must never be, dear heart."

"I do trust not, verily; yet--"

"What, not abed yet?" cried the cheery voice of Mrs Wade. "I came up
but to see if you had all you lacked. Doll's on her way up. I reckon
she shall be here by morning. A good maid, surely, but main slow.
What! the little ones be asleep? That's well. But, deary me, what long
faces have you two! Are you taking thought for your funeral, or what
discourse have you, that you both look like judges?"

"Something like it, Hostess," said Elizabeth, with her grave smile.
"Truly, we were considering that which may come, and marvelling if we
should hold fast."

The landlady set her arms akimbo, and looked from one of the girls to
the other.

"Why, what's a-coming?" said she.

"Nay, we know not what, but--"

"Dear heart, then I'd wait till I did! I'll tell you what it is--I hate
to have things wasted, even an old shoe-latchet; why, I pity to cast it
aside, lest it should come in for something some day. Now, my good
maids, don't waste your courage and resolution. Just you keep them till
they're wanted, and then they'll be bright and ready for use. You're
not going to be burned to-night; you're going to bed. And screwing up
your courage to be burned is an ill preparation for going to bed, I can
tell you. You don't know, and I don't, that any one of us will be
called to glorify the Lord in the fires. If we are, depend upon it
He'll show us how to do it. Now, then, say your prayers, and go to
sleep."

"I thank you, Hostess, but I must be going home."

"Good-night, then, Bessy, and don't sing funeral dirges o