eaven. And we cannot do that, Jane Hiltoft--not even for
life."

"Nay, that stands to reason if it were so, Master Ewring; but, trust me,
I know not what you mean, no more than if you spake Latin."

"Read God's Book, and pray for His Spirit, and you shall find out,
Jane.--Well, Hiltoft?"

"Wastborowe says you may see Mistress Bongeor if you'll give him a royal
farthing, but he won't let you for a penny less. He's had words with
their Audrey, and he's as savage as Denis of Siccarus."

"Who was he, Hiltoft?" answered Mr Ewring with a smile, as he felt in
his purse for the half-crown which was to be the price of his visit to
Agnes Bongeor.

"Eh, I don't know: I heard Master Doctor say the other day that his dog
was as fierce as him."

"Art sure he said not `Syracuse'?"

"Dare say he might. Syracuse or Siccarus, all's one to me."

At the door of the dungeon stood the redoubtable Wastborowe, his keys
hanging from his girdle, and looking, to put it mildly, not particularly
amiable.

"Want letting out again by and by?" he inquired with grim satire, as Mr
Ewring put the coin in his hand.

"If you please, Wastborowe. You've no writ to keep me, have you?"

"Haven't--worse luck! Only wish I had. I'll set a match to the lot of
you with as much pleasure as I'd drink a pot of ale. It'll never be
good world till we're rid of heretics!"

"There'll be Satan left then, methinks, and maybe a few rogues and
murderers to boot."

"Never a one as bad as you Lutherans and Gospellers! Get you in.
You'll have to wait my time to come out."

"Very well," said Mr Ewring quietly, and went in.

He found Agnes Bongeor seated in a corner of the window recess, with her
Bible on her knee; but it was closed, and she looked very miserable.

"Well, my sister, and how is it with you?"

"As 'tis like to be, Master Ewring, with her whom the Lord hath cast
forth, and reckons unworthy to do Him a service."

"Did he so reckon Abraham, then, at the time of the offering up of
Isaac? Isaac was not sacrificed: he was turned back from the same. Yet
what saith the Lord unto him? `Because thou hast done this thing, and
hast not withheld thy son, thou shalt be blessed, because thou hast
obeyed My voice.' See you, his good will thereto is reckoned as though
he had done the thing. `The Lord looketh on the heart.' Doubt thou
not, my good sister, but firmly believe, that to thee also faith is
counted for righteousness, and the will passet