dson
out of the place and go back to India. It was a trying and troubled
time, and all missionary-work was necessarily at a standstill. Mrs.
Judson was very reluctant to leave Burmah, and for long refused to
depart; she had not heard from her husband for many months, and did not
know on what day he might return. But Mr. Hough was so persistent that
she at last consented, and allowed her luggage to be taken on board a
vessel, she herself following. But at the last moment, when the ship was
on the point of sailing, she felt that she could not leave, and ordered
her things to be taken back to the city again. Mr. and Mrs. Hough went
on, and she was left alone, but within a few days her husband returned,
and her greatest trouble was over.

CHAPTER VI.

INQUIRERS AND CONVERTS.

Soon after the retirement of Mr. Hough, two other missionaries and their
wives came out to Rangoon, and the Judsons felt it was time to commence
a more aggressive work. A little house of public worship, or zayat, was
erected in one of the main roads and opened to all who liked to come in.
The work had to be done very quietly, in order not to arouse the
opposition of the Government, for there was much uncertainty at the time
about the course the officials would take should any converts be made.
When the zayat was finished, Mr. Judson called together some of the
people living around, and held his first public service in the Burmese
tongue. From this time meetings were held several times a week, and
during the day Mr. Judson would sit in the house, talking and arguing
with all who chose to come in to him.

Every Wednesday evening, at seven o'clock, Mrs. Judson met a class of
women, numbering generally from twelve to twenty. To these she would
read the Scriptures and talk in a simple way about God. "My last meeting
was very animating," she said when describing one of these classes, "and
the appearance of the females (thirteen in number, all young married
women) very encouraging. Some of them were inquisitive, and after
spending two hours seemed loth to go. One said she appeared to herself
like a blind person just beginning to see. And another said she believed
in Christ, prayed to Him daily, and asked what else was necessary to
make her a real disciple of Christ. I told her she must not only say
that she believed in Christ, but must believe with all her heart. She
again asked what were some of the evidences of believing with the heart.
I told he