les said to one man,' says he: `and if it was
enough then, it is enough now.' `But, Father,' says I, `that sounds
rather as if you thought the Church might go wrong, or had gone wrong,
in putting all these things beside our Lord.' `My son,' saith he, `what
meanest thou by the Church? The Holy Ghost cannot teach error. Men in
the Church may go wrong, and are continually wandering into error. What
said our Lord to the rulers of the Jews, who were the priests of His
day? "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures." This book is truth: when
men leave this book,' saith he, `they go astray.' `But not holy
Church?' said I. `Ah,' saith he, `the elect may stray from the fold;
how much more they that are strangers there? The only safe place for
any one of us,' he says, `is to keep close to the side of the Good
Shepherd.'"

"David, where dwells that hermit?"

"By the holy well, away on the Stronde, west of Lud Gate. Any body you
meet on that road will tell you where to find him. His hut stands a bit
back from the high way, on the north."

"Very good. I'll find him."

The next day, until nearly the hour of curfew, nothing was seen of
Countess. She took Olaf with her as guard, and they returned at the
last moment, just in time to enter the City before the gates were
closed. David and Christian had finished their work, shut up the shop,
and put the children to bed, when Olaf made his stately entrance, with
his mistress behind him.

"Thy old hermit," she said, addressing David, "is the first decent
Christian I have found--the first that goes by his Master's words, and
does not worry me with nonsense."

She drew off her hood, and sat down in the chimney-corner.

"You found him then?" answered David. "Had you much trouble?"

"I found him. Never mind the trouble."

"Has he settled the puzzle for you, then?"

"I think I settled it for him."

"I ask your pardon, but I don't understand you."

"I don't suppose you do."

"Countess," said Christian, coming down the ladder, "I bought the
herrings as you bade me; but there is no salt salmon in the market
to-day."

"To whom are you speaking?" inquired Countess, with an expression of fun
about the corners of her lips.

"You," replied Christian in surprise.

"Then, perhaps you will have the goodness to call me by my Christian
name, which is Sarah."

"O Countess! have you been baptised?"

"I have."

"By the hermit?"

"By the hermit."

"But how?"

"How? W