ch I had heard him first use,
greeted by the name of Mary; the woman replied in the same tongue, but
almost immediately said in English, "We hoped to have heard you speak
to-night, Peter, but we cannot expect that now, seeing that it is so
late, owing to your having been detained by the way, as Winifred tells
me; nothing remains for you to do now but to sup--to-morrow, with God's
will, we shall hear you." "And to-night, also, with God's will,
providing you be so disposed. Let those of your family come hither."
"They will be hither presently," said Mary, "for knowing that thou art
arrived, they will, of course, come and bid thee welcome." And scarcely
had she spoke, when I beheld a party of people descending the moonlit
side of the hill. They soon arrived at the place where we were; they
might amount in all to twelve individuals. The principal person was a
tall, athletic man, of about forty, dressed like a plain country farmer;
this was, I soon found, the husband of Mary; the rest of the group
consisted of the children of these two, and their domestic servants. One
after another they all shook Peter by the hand, men and women, boys and
girls, and expressed their joy at seeing him. After which, he said,
"Now, friends, if you please, I will speak a few words to you." A stool
was then brought him from the cart, which he stepped on, and the people
arranging themselves round him, some standing, some seated on the ground,
he forthwith began to address them in a clear, distinct voice; and the
subject of his discourse was the necessity, in all human beings, of a
change of heart.

The preacher was better than his promise, for, instead of speaking a few
words, he preached for at least three quarters of an hour; none of the
audience, however, showed the slightest symptom of weariness; on the
contrary, the hope of each individual appeared to hang upon the words
which proceeded from his mouth. At the conclusion of the sermon or
discourse, the whole assembly again shook Peter by the hand, and returned
to their house, the mistress of the family saying, as she departed, "I
shall soon be back, Peter, I go but to make arrangements for the supper
of thyself and company;" and, in effect, she presently returned, attended
by a young woman, who bore a tray in her hands. "Set it down, Jessy,"
said the mistress to the girl, "and then betake thyself to thy rest, I
shall remain here for a little time to talk with my friends." The girl
d