that she would list, and
might be suffered so to do, I would thank God to the end of my days."

"Anentis what should she list, good Mistress?"

"Phyllis, she hath never yet made acquaintance with Christ our Lord. He
is to her but a dead name set to the end of her prayers--an image nailed
to a cross--a man whom she has heard tell of, but never saw. The
living, loving Lord, who died and rose for her--who is ready at this
hour to be her best Friend and dearest Comforter--who is holding forth
His hands to her, as to all of us, and entreating her to come to Him and
be saved--she looketh on Him as she doth on Constantine the Great, as
man that was good and powerful once, but long ago, and 'tis all over and
done with. I would fain have her hear man speak of Him that knoweth
Him."

"Father Jordan, Mistress?"

"No. Father Jordan knows about Him. He knoweth Him not--at the least
not so well as I want. Ay, I count he doth know Him after a fashion;
but 'tis a poor fashion. I want a better man than he, and I want leave
for him to come at her. And me feareth very sore that I shall win
neither."

"Shall we ask our Lord for it?" said Amphillis, shyly.

"So do, dear maid. Thy faith shameth mine unbelief."

"What shall I say, Mistress?"

"Say, `Lord, send hither man that knoweth Thee, and incline the hearts
of them in authority to suffer him to come at our Lady.' I will speak
yet again with Sir Godfrey, but I might well-nigh as good speak to the
door-post: he is as hard, and he knows as little. And her time is very
near."

There were tears in Perrote's eyes as she went away, and Amphillis
entirely sympathised with her. She was coming to realise the paramount
importance to every human soul of that personal acquaintance with Jesus
Christ, which is the one matter of consequence to all who have felt the
power of an endless life. The natural result of this was that lesser
matters fell into their right place without any difficulty. There was
no troubling "May I do this?" or "How far is it allowable to enjoy
that?" If this were contrary to the mind of God, or if that grated on
the spiritual taste, it simply could not be done, any more than
something could be done which would grieve a beloved human friend, or
could be eaten with relish if it were ill-flavoured and disgusting. But
suppose the relish does remain? Then, either the conscience is
ill-informed and scrupulous, requiring enlightenment by the Word of God,
an