ion yesterday, and didst thou
wilfully take that poison?' 'No,' said I; 'had I known there had been
poison in the cake I certainly should not have taken it.' 'And who gave
it thee?' said Peter. 'An enemy of mine,' I replied. 'Who is thy
enemy?' 'An Egyptian sorceress and poison-monger.' 'Thy enemy is a
female. I fear thou hadst given her cause to hate thee--of what did she
complain?' 'That I had stolen the tongue out of her head.' 'I do not
understand thee--is she young?' 'About sixty-five.'

Here Winifred interposed. 'Thou didst call her just now by hard names,
young man,' said she; 'I trust thou dost bear no malice against her.'
'No,' said I, 'I bear no malice against her.' 'Thou art not wishing to
deliver her into the hand of what is called justice?' 'By no means,'
said I; 'I have lived long enough upon the roads not to cry out for the
constable when my finger is broken. I consider this poisoning as an
accident of the roads; one of those to which those who travel are
occasionally subject.' 'In short, thou forgivest thine adversary?' 'Both
now and for ever,' said I. 'Truly,' said Winifred, 'the spirit which the
young man displayeth pleases me much; I should be loth that he left us
yet. I have no doubt that, with the blessing of God, and a little of thy
exhortation, he will turn out a true Christian before he leaveth us.' 'My
exhortation!' said Peter, and a dark shade passed over his countenance;
'thou forgettest what I am--I--I--but I am forgetting myself; the Lord's
will be done; and now put away the things, for I perceive that our
friends are coming to attend us to the place of meeting.'

Again the family which I had seen the night before descended the hill
from their abode. They were now dressed in their Sunday's best. The
master of the house led the way. They presently joined us, when a quiet
sober greeting ensued on each side. After a little time Peter shook me
by the hand and bade me farewell till the evening; Winifred did the same,
adding that she hoped I should be visited by sweet and holy thoughts. The
whole party then moved off in the direction by which we had come the
preceding night, Peter and the master leading the way, followed by
Winifred and the mistress of the family. As I gazed on their departing
forms, I felt almost inclined to follow them to their place of worship. I
did not stir, however, but remained leaning against my oak with my hands
behind me.

And after a time I s