and glorious as the last. Again my friends and myself
breakfasted together--again the good family of the house on the hill
above, headed by the respectable master, descended to the meadow. Peter
and his wife were ready to receive them. Again Peter placed himself at
the side of the honest farmer, and Winifred by the side of her friend.
'Wilt thou not come?' said Peter, looking towards me with a face in which
there was much emotion. 'Wilt thou not come?' said Winifred, with a face
beaming with kindness. But I made no answer, and presently the party
moved away, in the same manner in which it had moved on the preceding
Sabbath, and I was again left alone.

The hours of the Sabbath passed slowly away. I sat gazing at the sky,
the trees, and the water. At last I strolled up to the house and sat
down in the porch. It was empty; there was no modest maiden there, as on
the preceding Sabbath. The damsel of the book had accompanied the rest.
I had seen her in the procession, and the house appeared quite deserted.
The owners had probably left it to my custody, so I sat down in the
porch, quite alone. The hours of the Sabbath passed heavily away.

At last evening came, and with it the party of the morning. I was now at
my place beneath the oak. I went forward to meet them. Peter and his
wife received me with a calm and quiet greeting, and passed forward. The
rest of the party had broken 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