d had one burned already from your house--I marvel at
you that you hide not yourself behind your corn-measures and
flour-sacks, and have a care not to show your face in the street. And
here up you march as bold as Hector, and desire to have speech of a
prisoner! Well--it's your business, not mine."

"Friend, mine hearth is desolate, and I have only God to my friend. Do
you marvel that I haste to do His work whilst it is day, or that I
desire to be approved of Him?"

"You go a queer way about it. I reckon you think with the old saw,
[Proverb.] `The nearer the church the further from Heaven'!"

"That is true but in some sense. Verily, the nearer some churches, and
some priests, so it is. May I see Mistress Bongeor?"

"Ay, you would fain not commit yourself, I see, more than may be. Come,
you have a bit of prudence left. So much the better for you. Come in,
and I'll see if Wastborowe's in a reasonable temper, and that hangs
somewhat on the one that Audrey's in."

The porter shut the gate behind Mr Ewring, and went to seek Wastborowe.
Just then Jane Hiltoft, coming to her door, saw him waiting, and
invited him to take a seat.

"Fine morning, Master."

"Ay, it is, Jane. Have you yet here poor Johnson's little maid?"

"I haven't, Master, and I feel fair lost without the dear babe. A rare
good child she was--never see a better. The Black Ladies of Hedingham
has got her, and I'm all to pieces afeard they'll not tend her right
way. How should nuns (saving their holy presences) know aught about
babes and such like? Eh dear! they'd better have left her with me. I'd
have taken to her altogether, if Simon'd have let me--and I think he
would after a bit. And she'd have done well with me, too."

"Ay, Jane, you'd have cared her well for the body, I cast no doubt."

"Dear heart, but it's sore pity, Master Ewring, such a good man as you
cannot be a good Catholic like every body else! You'd save yourself
ever so much trouble and sorrow. I cannot think why you don't."

"We should save ourselves a little sorrow, Jane; but we should have a
deal more than we lost."

"But how so, Master? It's only giving up an opinion."

"Maybe so, with some: but not with us. They that have been taught this
way by others, and never knew Christ for themselves--with them, as you
say, it were but the yielding of opinion: but to us that know Him, and
have heard His voice, it would be the betraying of the best Friend in
earth or H