an?" inquired the puzzled mother.
"Has the sun turned thy wits out o' door?"

"The sun did nought to me, mother. It was Bessie's face that I could
not bear. Bessie's face, that I knew so well--the face that had lain
beside me on this pillow over and over again--and that smile upon her
lips, as if she were half in Heaven already--Mother it was dreadful! I
felt as if the last day were come, and the angels were shutting me out."

"Hush thee, child, hush thee! 'Tis not safe to speak such things.
Heretics go to the ill place, as thou very well wist."

"Names don't matter, do they, Mother? It is truth that signifies.
Whatever names they please to call Bessie Foulkes, she had Heaven and
not Hell in her face. That smile of hers never came from Satan. I know
what his smiles are like: I've seen them on other faces afore now. He
never had nought to do with her."

"Amy, if thy father hears thee say such words as those, he'll be proper
angry, be sure!"

Amy sat up on the bed.

"Mother, you know that Bessie Foulkes loved God, and feared Him, and
cared to please Him, as you and I never did in all our lives. Do folks
that love God go to Satan? Does He punish people because they want to
please Him? I know little enough about it, alack-the-day! but if an
angel came from Heaven to tell me Bessie wasn't there this minute, I
could not believe him."

"Well, well! think what you will, child, only don't say it! I've
nothing against Bess being in Heaven, not I! I hope she may be, poor
lass. But thou knowest thy father's right set against it all, and the
priests too; and, Amy, I don't want to see _thee_ on the waste by Lexden
Road. Just hold thy tongue, wilt thou? or thou'lt find thyself in the
wrong box afore long."

"Mother, I don't think Bessie Foulkes is sorry for what happened this
morning."

"Maybe not, but do hold thy peace!"

"I can hold my peace if you bid me, Mother. I've not been a good girl,
but I mean to try and be better. I don't feel as if I should ever care
again for the gewgaws and the merrymakings that I used to think all the
world of. It's like as if I'd had a glimpse into Heaven as she went in,
and the world had lost its savour. But don't be feared, Mother; I'll
not vex you, nor Father neither, if you don't wish me to talk. Only--
nobody 'll keep me from trying to go after Bessie!"

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

DOROTHY TAKES A MESSAGE.

"Now then, attend, can't you? How much sugar?"

"Plea