The
rest of the party had broke into groups. There was a kind of excitement
amongst them, and much eager whispering. I went to one of the groups;
the young girl of whom I have spoken more than once, was speaking: "Such
a sermon," said she, "it has never been our lot to hear; Peter never
before spoke as he has done this day--he was always a powerful preacher,
but oh, the unction of the discourse of this morning, and yet more of
that of the afternoon, which was the continuation of it!" "What was the
subject?" said I, interrupting her. "Ah! you should have been there,
young man, to have heard it; it would have made a lasting impression upon
you. I was bathed in tears all the time; those who heard it will never
forget the preaching of the good Peter Williams on the Power, Providence,
and Goodness of God."

CHAPTER LXXIX

Deep Interest--Goodly Country--Two Mansions--Welshman's Candle--Beautiful
Universe--Godly Discourse--Fine Church--Points of Doctrine--Strange
Adventures--Paltry Cause--Roman Pontiff--Evil Spirit.

On the morrow I said to my friends, "I am about to depart; farewell!"
"Depart!" said Peter and his wife, simultaneously; "whither wouldst thou
go?" "I can't stay here all my days," I replied. "Of course not," said
Peter; "but we had no idea of losing thee so soon: we had almost hoped
that thou wouldst join us, become one of us. We are under infinite
obligations to thee." "You mean I am under infinite obligations to you,"
said I. "Did you not save my life?" "Perhaps so, under God," said
Peter; "and what hast thou not done for me? Art thou aware that, under
God, thou hast preserved my soul from despair? But, independent of that,
we like thy company, and feel a deep interest in thee, and would fain
teach thee the way that is right. Hearken, to-morrow we go into Wales;
go with us." "I have no wish to go into Wales," said I. "Why not?" said
Peter, with animation. "Wales is a goodly country; as the Scripture
says--a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths, that spring out
of valleys and hills, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose
hills thou mayest dig _lead_."

"I dare say it is a very fine country," said I, "but I have no wish to go
there just now; my destiny seems to point in another direction, to say
nothing of my trade." "Thou dost right to say nothing of thy trade,"
said Peter, smiling, "for thou seemest to care nothing about it; which
has led Winifred and myself to