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 sat me down at the foot of the oak with my face turned
towards the water, and, folding my hands, I fell into deep meditation. I
thought on the early Sabbaths of my life, and the manner in which I was
wont to pass them. How carefully I said my prayers when I got up on the
Sabbath morn, and how carefully I combed my hair and brushed my clothes
in order that I might do credit to the Sabbath day. I though