ons, war, famines and miseries unspeakable, the graveyard
overflowing, the country depopulated. All this, you Anabaptists, you
preachers of the new religion, you promulgators of strange doctrines,
are about to bring upon this country. Had matters been allowed to go on
as they were, had the Catholic faith been undisturbed, quiet, peace, and
prosperity would still have existed in the land."

"As to that, mother, you are speaking of the past, not foretelling the
future!" exclaimed A'Dale. "I will not bandy words with you; and as I
knew not the country during the happy times you speak of, I cannot reply
to you; but it seems to me as much as saying that the man who is asleep
can do no harm. Therefore, as long as the country submitted to the
priests, the priests were not inclined to find fault with them."

I must observe here that Margery did not understand a word that was
said; Aveline, indeed, scarcely comprehended the meaning of the old
woman's remarks. She, like most persons of her class, seeing two young
people together, at once pronounced them lovers. But I have an idea
that her words did not fall altogether unheeded on A'Dale's ears.
Whatever he might have been thinking of before, I suspected, from a
glance which I saw him give Mistress Margery, that from that time he
began to entertain affectionate feelings for her. The old woman had not
all this time offered us seats, or shown any inclination to treat us
with courtesy. It struck me, however, that the latter might probably be
purchased. I therefore, taking a piece of money from my leather purse,
approached her and said, "We must pay you, dame, for telling our
fortunes, or we cannot hope that they will come true. Let me cross your
palm with this piece of money, and we may have some expectation of
finding your predictions fulfilled."

The expression of the old woman's countenance immediately changed, and,
rising from her seat, she drew forth a bench and some stools, on which
she begged we would rest ourselves. I saw, as she moved about, that she
was far more active than her appearance betokened; and, after a little
time I could not help thinking that I had seen her before. Suddenly it
struck me that she was no other than Barbara Trond--the old woman who
used to sell tapers and other Popish trickeries in front of the
cathedral. If so, as she had frequently seen us, I had no doubt that
from the first she knew who we were. I immediately guessed that,
findin