eries. "And the priests may say what they will, but I believe they
are in Heaven."

"But that other, Stephen? You said, me and one other. One of the men,
I suppose?"

"That other," said Stephen gently, "that other, dear, is Rudolph."

"What can have become of him?"

"He may have strayed, or run into some cottage. That I cannot find him
may mean that he is alive."

"Or that he died early enough to be buried," she said sadly.

"The good Lord would look to the child," said Haldane unexpectedly. "He
is either safe with Him, or He will tell you some day what has become of
Him."

"You're a queer witch!" said Stephen, looking at her with some surprise.

"I'm not a witch at all. I'm only a harmless old woman who deals in
herbs and such like, but folks make me out worse than I am. And when
every body looks on you as black, it's not so easy to keep white. If
others shrink from naming God to you, you get to be shy of it too. Men
and women have more influence over each other than they think. For
years and years I've felt as if my soul was locked up in the dark, and
could not get out: but this girl, that I took in because she needed
bodily help, has given me better help than ever I gave her--she has
unlocked the door, and let the light in on my poor smothered soul. Now,
young man, if you'll take an old woman's counsel--old women are mostly
despised, but they know a thing or two, for all that--you'll just let
the maid alone a while. She couldn't be safer than she is here; and
she'd best not venture forth of the doors till her hurts are healed, and
the noise and talk has died away. Do you love her well enough to deny
yourself for her good? That's the test of real love, and there are not
many who will stand it."

"Tell me what you would have me do, and I'll see," answered Stephen with
a smile.

"Can you stay away for a month or two?"

"Well, that's ill hearing. But I reckon I can, if it is to do any good
to Ermine."

"If you keep coming here," resumed the shrewd old woman, "folks will
begin to ask why. And if they find out why, it won't be good for you or
Ermine either. Go home and look after your usual business, and be as
like your usual self as you can. The talk will soon be silenced if no
fuel be put to it. And don't tell your own mother what you have found."

"I've no temptation to do that," answered Stephen gravely. "My mother
has been under the mould this many a year."

"Well, beware of any f