confess she has. Osbert, how do you manage her? I
can't."

"Let her alone as long as I can, and take the mop to her when I can't,"
was the answer.

"I should think the mop isn't often out of your hand," observed Haimet
with painful candour.

"It wears out by times," returned Osbert drily.

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Note 1. "Into the worlds of worlds" is the Primer's translation of "_in
saecula saeculorum_."

Note 2. That witchcraft is no fable, but a real sin, which men have
committed in past times, and may commit again, is certain from Holy
Scripture. But undoubtedly, in the Middle Ages, numbers of persons
suffered under accusation of this crime who were entirely innocent: and
the so-called "white witches" were in reality mere herbalists and
dealers in foolish but harmless charms, often consisting in a kind of
nursery rhyme and a few Biblical words.

Note 3. The wrong of cruelty to men and women, as such, whether they
were Christians or not, had not dawned on men's minds in the twelfth
century, nor did it till the Reformation. But much pity was often
expressed for the sufferings of "Christian blood," and a very few
persons had some compassion for animals.

CHAPTER TEN.

BARRIERS IN THE WAY.

"Christ is my readiness: who lives in Him
Can scarcely be unready."

S.W. Partridge.

A little way out of Dorchester, surrounded by pollard willow trees, and
on a narrow slip of ground which sloped down towards the river, stood a
tiny mud hut, the inhabitants of which lived in great misery even for
that time. One small chamber, with a smaller lean-to, constituted the
whole dwelling. As to furniture, a modern eye, glancing round, would
have said there was none. There was a bundle of rags, covering a heap
of straw, in one corner; and in another was a broken bench, which with a
little contrivance might have seated three persons of accommodating
tempers. A hole in the roof let out the smoke--when it chose to go; and
let in the rain and snow, which generally chose to come. On a niche in
the wall stood a single pan, an axe, and a battered tin bowl, which
comprised all the family riches. The axe was the tool which obtained
bread--and very little of it; the pan did all the cooking; the bowl
served for pail, jug, and drinking-vessel. An iron socket let into the
wall held a piece of half-burnt pinewood, which was lamp and candle to
the whole house. A h