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hing. Oft-times have Master Carew and I sat reading of that book whenever I could make an errand unto his neighbourhood; and he hath taught me many things. But I cannot say yet that I be where you be, Mistress Margery," he added, calling her by the old familiar title, "or that I know Christ as friendly as you seem to know Him." "Then," said Margery, earnestly, "let not go your grasp till you have fast hold of Him. Ah! what matter how soon or how sore cometh the end, if `_whanne He hath loued Hise that ben in the world, into the ende He loueth them_.' [John xiii. 1.] O dear friend, count not anything lost if thou keepest Christ His love! If He shall come unto thee and say of aught by which thou settest store, as He did say unto Peter, `_Louest_ _thou me more than these_?' let thine answer be his, `_Che, Lord, Thou woost that I loue Thee_!' [John xxi. 15.] Oh count not aught too rare or too brave for to give Christ! `_He that loueth his lyf schal leese it; and he that hatith his lyf in this world, kepith it unto everlastinge lyf_.' [John xii. 25.] No man loseth by that chepe [exchange, bargain] of life worldly for life everlasting. Never shall the devils have leave to say, `Behold here a man who hath lost by Christ!'" "Must we needs give Christ _all_?" said Richard, in an unsteady tone. "Is there a thing that thou wouldst keep from Him?--a thing that thou lovest more than thou lovest Him? Then it will be no marvel that thou shouldst lose the same. Trust me, if His heart be set on thee, He will either have thy heart away from it by thy good will, or will have it away from thy heart by bitter rending and sorrow. And alas for that man who hath no portion in Christ His heart!" Richard answered almost in a whisper, and bent forward to take Margery's hand as he did so. The spell was fully broken now. "There was only one thing, and He hath taken it. Margery, I loved _you_. I had given readily all else but you. And I trow you will count it but a sorry [poor, unworthy] giving, wherein the heart goeth not with the hands." She turned her head hastily away, and made no answer; but he felt her hand grow deathly cold in his own. He dropped it, and rose--and so did she. She went with him to the door; and there, as she offered her hand for a farewell greeting, she spoke-- "Richard, God hath parted thee and me, and whatsoever God doth He doth wed. If it were as thou sayest, there was need thereof. When ch
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