FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87  
88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   >>   >|  
r errors and corruptions, and that her mandates should be obeyed, even if they were sometimes somewhat harsh and unreasonable, as notably in this matter of the circulation of the Scriptures amongst the people. So he was more anxious for Dalaber to avoid drawing down notice upon himself than that he should play the part of hero and martyr with constancy and courage. And his friendly solicitude had been soothing to Anthony through the day, restoring his balance of mind, and quieting the nervous restlessness which had possessed him hitherto. And now he was approaching the house of his beloved, and her gentle sweetness and tender counsels would fill up the measure of his happiness, and restore that confidence in himself and his cause which had at one time been somewhat rudely shaken. She met him on the threshold, and for the first time since the troth plight her arms were about his neck, and he felt the tremor of her whole slender frame. "Anthony, Anthony, thou art safe!" "Beloved, yes; wherefore didst thou fear for me?" "How could I not fear, not knowing all, when such stories and rumours have been flying about?" "What stories? what rumours?" he asked, feeling his heart begin to beat more rapidly. She drew him into a little antechamber close at hand, and by the light of the flickering fire he saw that her face was pale and anxious, whilst her eyes looked as though they had shed tears. "My Freda, what is the matter? Thou hast been weeping." "Yes, for my heart has been heavy within me. How should it not be? And yet I know that the cause is holy and righteous, and I would have all men to be constant and full of courage. Cannot the Lord preserve His own?" "Yes, yes; let us not fear!" cried Dalaber, his courage rising with the need to reassure his beloved. "But tell me, what hast thou heard?" "Arthur Cole has been here; he has come thrice today, each time with fresh news. Thou dost know how he regards my sister Magda. None can fail to note his love for her; and I think he will win hers at the last. I trow he has well redeemed the pledge he gave her, and that he will get his reward--in time." "His pledge?" "Yes; he vowed to her that if he were able he would give warning to any of the brethren who might be in peril. He hears more than others of what is likely to pass, and he brought us word at daylight this morning that Master Garret was to be closely searched for." "That is true; but he is fled
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87  
88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Anthony
 

courage

 

pledge

 
rumours
 
stories
 
beloved
 

anxious

 

matter

 

Dalaber

 

rising


corruptions
 
reassure
 

Arthur

 

thrice

 

weeping

 

Cannot

 

preserve

 

constant

 

obeyed

 

righteous


mandates
 

warning

 

brethren

 
brought
 

searched

 
closely
 
daylight
 

morning

 

Master

 

Garret


sister

 

errors

 
reward
 
redeemed
 

confidence

 
notice
 

restore

 

happiness

 

counsels

 

measure


rudely

 

plight

 
threshold
 

shaken

 
drawing
 
tender
 

sweetness

 

restoring

 
balance
 

solicitude