She was dead, the poor victim underneath
the veil, in a minute or two after the missionaries entered; and the
veil being taken off they saw that it was a woman who had professed
Christianity. Her sons were among those who had strangled her. Another
woman came forward with great shew of bravery when her name was called;
offered her hand to the missionaries as she passed them; and with great
pride of bearing submitted herself to the death which probably she knew
she could not avoid. Everybody was quiet and cheerful, and the whole
thing went on with the undisturbed order of a recognized and accustomed
necessity; only the old king's son, the reigning chief for a long time
back, was very uneasy at the part he was playing before the
missionaries; he was the only trembling or doubtful one there. Yet he
would not yield the point. Pride before all; his father must not be
buried without the due honours of his position. Mr. Rhys and Mr.
Lefferts had staid to make their protest and offer their entreaties and
warnings, to the very last; and then heart-sick and almost faint with
the disgusting scene, had returned home.

Yet the influence of the truth was increasing and the good work was
spreading and growing around them, steadily and in every direction. A
great many had renounced heathenism; not a small number were earnest
Christians and shewed the truth of their religion in their changed
lives. A great number of reports proved this.

"It is work that tries what stuff men's hearts are of, however,"
remarked Mr. Morrison as he folded up one packet of letters. Neither of
his hearers made him any answer. Mrs. Caxton sat opposite to him,
deeply attentive but silent, with her hand always lying upon her own
particular packet. Eleanor had turned a little away and sat with her
side face towards Mr. Morrison, looking into the fire. Her work was
dropped; she sat motionless.

"I have a letter to read you now of a later date," Mr. Morrison went
on,--"from Mr. Rhys, which shews how well he has got hold of the people
and how much he is regarded by them already. It shews the influence
gained by the truth, too, which is working there fast."

After giving some details of business and of his labours, Mr. Rhys
wrote--"My last notable piece of work, has been in the character of an
ambassador of peace--not heavenly but earthly. News was brought four or
five days ago that the heathen inhabitants of two neighbouring
districts had engaged in open hosti