swim in that sea while I live, neither will I have any thing to do
therewith."

Nothing could overcome the playful wit of this indomitable girl. She
punned on their words, she laughed at their threats, she held them up to
ridicule. This must be ended.

For the fourth time Dr Chedsey assumed the black cap. Rose kept
silence while she was condemned to death. But no sooner had his voice
ceased than, to the amazement of all who heard her, she broke forth into
song. It was verily:

"The shout of them that triumph,
The song of them that feast."

She was led out of the court and down the dungeon steps, singing, till
her voice filled the whole court.

"Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill;
Thy rod, Thy staff doth comfort me,
And Thou art with me still."

Which was the happier, do you think, that night? Dr Chedsey, who had
read the sentence of death upon ten martyrs? or young Rose Allen, who
was to be burned to death in five weeks?

When Rose's triumphant voice had died away, the gaoler was hastily
bidden to bring the other two prisoners. The Commissioners were very
much annoyed. It was a bad thing for the people who stood by, they
thought, when martyrs insisted on singing in response to a sentence of
execution. They wanted to make the spectators forget such scenes.

"Well, where be the prisoners?" said Sir John Kingston.

"Please, your Worships, they be at the bar!" answered the gaolor, with a
grin.

"At the bar, man? But I see nought. Be they dwarfs?"

"Something like," said the gaoler.

He dragged up a form to the bar, and lifted on it, first, Will Johnson,
and then Cissy.

"Good lack! such babes as these!" said Sir John, in great perplexity.

He felt it really very provoking. Here was a girl of twenty who had
made fun of him in the most merciless manner, and had the audacity to
sing when condemned to die, thus setting a shocking example, and
awakening the sympathy of the public: and here, to make matters worse,
were two little children brought up as heretics! This would never do.
It was the more awkward from his point of view, that Cissy was so small
that he took her to be much younger than she was.

"I cannot examine these babes!" said he to Chedsey.

Dr Chedsey, in answer, took the examination on himself.

"How old art thou, my lad?" said he to Will.

Will made no answer, and his sister spoke up for him.

"Please, sir, he's six."

"And