he'd have missed us dreadful!
Now, you see, I can tend on him, and do everything for him; and that's
why I'm glad. If it had to be, you know."

Elizabeth looked up at Cissy's father, and he said in a husky voice,--

"`Of such is the kingdom of Heaven.'"

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS.

"Bessy," said Cissy in a whisper, "do you think they'll burn us all
to-day?"

"I reckon, sweet heart, they be scarce like to burn thee."

"But they'll have to do to me whatever they do to Father!" cried Cissy,
earnestly.

"Dear child, thou wist not what burning is."

"Oh, but I've burnt my fingers before now," said Cissy, with an air of
extensive experience which would have suited an old woman. "It's not
proper pleasant: but the worst's afterwards, and there wouldn't be any
afterwards, would there? It would be Heaven afterwards, wouldn't it? I
don't see that there's so much to be 'feared of in being burnt. If they
didn't burn me, and did Will and Baby, and--and Father"--and Cissy's
voice faltered, and she began to sob--"that would be dreadful--dreadful!
O Bessy, won't you ask God not to give them leave? They couldn't,
could they, unless He did?"

"Nay, dear heart, not unless He did," answered Elizabeth, feeling her
own courage strengthened by the child's faith.

"Then if you and I both ask Him _very_ hard,--O Bessy! don't you think
He will?"

Before Elizabeth could answer, Johnson said--"I wouldn't, Cis."

"You wouldn't, Father! Please why?"

"Because, dear heart, He knoweth better than we what is good for us.
Sometimes, when folk ask God too earnestly for that they desire, He lets
them have it, but in punishment, not in mercy. It would have been a
sight better for the Israelites if they hadn't had those quails. Dost
thou mind how David saith, `He gave them their desire, but sent leanness
withall into their souls?' I'd rather be burnt, Cis, than live with a
lean soul, and my Father in Heaven turning away His face from me."

Cissy considered. "Father, I could never get along a bit, if you were
so angry you wouldn't look at me!"

"Truly, dear heart, and I would not have my Father so. Ask the Lord
what thou wilt, Cis, if it be His will; only remember that His will is
best for us--the happiest as well as the most profitable."

"Wilt shut up o' thy preachment?" shouted Wastborowe, with a severe blow
to Johnson. "Thou wilt make the child as ill an heretic as thyself, and
we mean to bring h