The lost sheep," he thought, "torn
even to bleeding by thorns and its wool remained sticking to the
hedges. But when the shepherd finds it again, he takes it on his back
with joy." And he looked at the pretty white hands clasped so
touchingly under his prickly chin. The sweet burden lay warm on his
back, and the maiden's delicate cheek rested on his shoulder. Then the
old gray-beard began to lose his head. It seemed to him whilst looking
at those white hands, as if an evil voice close to him said: "Thy
Martha never had such hands."

"What does that matter to thee, old sinner," he answered the tempter
bravely. "Hast thou always lived among the purer brethren, thou
would'st not care in thy older days to keep company with the coarser."

"To be waited upon by such hands, would nevertheless be pleasant,"
continued the first voice.

"Nevertheless thou hast still thy old wife," answered he gruffly.

"Have not Hetzer, Rottmann and other prophets taught, that when a
brother felt, he had not found his suitable spiritual bride, he might
loose himself from the older bond and enter into a new marriage."

"Let the disciples of Judas teach. Their end was like his. Old Martha
entered the Baptist Communion with me and has ever been a true wife."

"Then take two wives, as permitted by the prophets of Munster. Had not
the holy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Lamech, Gideon, and David more than
one wife, why not thou also? It is true that the German princes forbade
this to the brethren at Munster, but the Landgraf himself, who
persecuted them with fire and sword, followed their example later on."

"Peace Satan," rejoined the old man. "Scripture is opposed to polygamy
in spite of Abraham and Philip of Hessen. God gave Adam only one Eva.
He created them male and female, not one male and two females. It is
also said, 'and they two shall be one flesh,' and not three or four.
But verily Martha is now nothing but skin and bones," he thought sadly
and sighed.

"You must find me very heavy, good father?" said Lydia in a low tone.

"No," he answered shortly. Then he became conscious that he had better
keep up a conversation with his _protegee_ than with the wicked Satan
who would tempt him from the right path, and he told her how his son
had informed him of the appointment made by Laurenzano, and how the
rest had come to pass. Lydia began to weep. "So you know everything,
and will certainly consider me very wicked."

"We are all but flesh and b