oice. 'I pray for her in my heart at this moment; I suppose; they
are bidden to put her out of the land, but I would not have her
entirely God-forsaken. But, sir, you have not read my cousin's letter.
And she bade me bring back an answer with much urgency.'

Still he delayed. He was thinking of the dreadful confession he came
from hearing. If it were true, the beautiful earth was a polluted
place, and he almost wished to die, to escape from such pollution, into
the white innocence of those who stood in the presence of God.

Suddenly his eyes fell on Lois's pure, grave face, upturned and
watching his. Faith in earthly goodness came over his soul in that
instant, 'and he blessed her unaware.'

He put his hand on her shoulder, with an action half paternal--although
the difference in their ages was not above a dozen years--and, bending
a little towards her, whispered, half to himself, 'Mistress Barclay,
you have done me good.'

'I!' said Lois, half affrighted--'I done you good! How?'

'By being what you are. But, perhaps, I should rather thank God, who
sent you at the very moment when my soul was so disquieted.'

At this instant, they were aware of Faith standing in front of them,
with a countenance of thunder. Her angry look made Lois feel guilty.
She had not enough urged the pastor to read his letter, she thought;
and it was indignation at this delay in what she had been commissioned
to do with the urgency of life or death, that made her cousin lower at
her so from beneath her straight black brows. Lois explained how she
had not found Mr. Nolan at his lodgings, and had had to follow him to
the door of the gaol. But Faith replied, with obdurate contempt:

'Spare thy breath, cousin Lois. It is easy seeing on what pleasant
matters thou and the Pastor Nolan were talking. I marvel not at thy
forgetfulness. My mind is changed. Give me back my letter, sir; it was
about a poor matter--an old woman's life. And what is that compared to
a young girl's love?'

Lois heard but for an instant; did not understand that her cousin, in
her jealous anger, could suspect the existence of such a feeling as
love between her and Mr. Nolan. No imagination as to its possibility
had ever entered her mind; she had respected him, almost revered
him--nay, had liked him as the probable husband of Faith. At the
thought that her cousin could believe her guilty of such treachery, her
grave eyes dilated, and fixed themselves on the flaming countenan