ouble you longer."

"Well, look out!" said Manning. "I don't much like your long prayers
just now: they're a bad sign. As to Haimet's Latin grace, I suppose
he's learnt that in the schools; and praying in Latin isn't so bad. But
a cross over the supper-table is plenty good enough for me. I never did
believe in folks that are always saying their prayers, and reckoning to
be better than their neighbours."

"I believe in being as good as I can be," said Gerhardt with a smile.
"If that should make me better than my neighbours, it would hardly be my
fault, would it? But in truth, Friend Manning, I do not think myself
any better, for I know too much of the evil of mine own heart."

"Ay, that's the lingo of the pestilent vipers in Guienne! I could find
in my heart to lay a silver penny you'll turn out to be one of that
brood. Girls, I hope you haven't caught the infection? We'll wait a
few days and see--what we shall see."

"Eh, Manning, they're the peaceablest set ever came in a house!"
exclaimed Isel. "Helped me over and over, they have, and never one of
'em gave me an ill word. And Gerard's made a pretty penny with weaving
and wood-carving, and every farthing he's given me, save what they
wanted for clothes. Do, for mercy's sake, let 'em be! Flemild married,
and Derette away to the anchorhold--I shall be a lost woman without
Agnes and Ermine! Nigh on seven years they've been here, and I haven't
been so comfortable in all my life afore. They may have some queer
notions in their heads--that I can't say; most folks have one way or
another--but they're downright good for help and quietness. They are,
so!"

"What says Father Dolfin about them?"

"Well, he don't say much of no sort," answered Isel doubtfully, with an
uneasy recollection of one or two things he had lately said. "But I say
they're as good folks as ever walked in shoe-leather, and you'll not
find their match in Oxford, let be Kepeharme Lane."

"Well," said Manning, "let them bide a few days: we shall see. But I
shall brook no heresy, and so I give you fair warning. No heretic,
known to me, shall ever darken the doors of a soldier of the cross!"

"I pray you, hold to that!" was Gerhardt's answer.

The next morning dawned a fair autumn day. Manning seemed somewhat more
inclined to be friendly than on the previous evening, and matters went
on pleasantly enough until the hour of dinner. They had just risen from
table when a rap came on the