ear
restrained me. My mother was busy with her own thoughts. She had
seen, I knew, the glance of intelligence which the stranger gave me;
she guessed that his story was a lie and that I knew it. What she
could not guess was the horror that held my tongue fastened as with a
padlock. So, both busy with bitter thoughts, we walked in silence to
Lantrig.

The evening meal was no better. My food choked me, and after a
struggle I was forced to let it lie almost untouched. But when the
fire was stirred, the candles lit, and I drew my footstool as usual
to her feet by the hearth, the old room looked so warm and cosy that
my pale fears began to vanish in its genial glow. I had possessed
myself of the "Pilgrim's Progress," and the volume, a dumpy octavo,
lay on my knee. As I read the story of Christian and Apollyon to its
end, a new courage fought in me with my morning fears.

"In this combat no man can imagine, unless he has seen and heard as I
did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all the time of
the fight: he _spake like a dragon_; and, on the other side, what
sighs and groans burst from Christian's heart. I never saw him all
the while give so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived that
he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged sword; then indeed he did
smile and look upward! but it was the dreadfullest sight that ever I
saw."

I glanced up at my mother, half resolved. She was leaning forward a
little and gazing into the fire, that lit up her pale face and
wonderful eyes with a sympathetic softness. I can remember now how
sweet she looked and how weary--that tender figure outlined in warm
glow against the stern, dark room. And all the time her heart was
slowly breaking with yearning for him that came not. I did not know
it then; but when does childhood know or understand the suffering of
later life? I looked down upon the page once more, turned back a
leaf or two, and read:

"Then did Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind
whether to go back or stand his ground. But he considered again that
he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn his
back to him might give him greater advantage, with ease to pierce him
with his darts; therefore he resolved to venture and stand his
ground."

"I come on them in bed sometimes, and sometimes from behind."
The words of my Apollyon came across my mind. Should I speak and
seek counsel?--What was that?

It was a tea