Novemb

on of discipline, which, contrary to the canons of the church, permits the unbaptized, as well as persons

not a Christian, for I have seen him, and lea

nned the society of his fellow worshippers, and there I followed him, coming upon him at last, as if by

looked as if he were inclined to fly m

aid. "I am pleased to see you s

as noticed amongst

oner your presence were not observed

ance. He has a most attractive face--so thoughtful, yet so manly; his mother's gentle lineaments seem to have

ep that I could not rest

r's sake? Do you not remember how she commended you to my care? And ne

tree, and he covered his face with his hands, but I could see that the tears forced their way between th

he loo

who, she said, was ever near her. I have heard all about the faith she loved, yet I am an outcast from it. What can I do?--my father will no

surely think he

w he w

r Lord calls you to give Him your love, your obedie

to leave

e lad's duty; but then his father was his natural guardian, and in all thin

to be a Christian he would oppose you no longer; that is, if you were once

ke her

baptism, which we will afford you; and then, unless you really feel life is in danger,

ut he is my father, and from

istianity gri

forms a plea for cowardice when men dare not be men, and is thr

, and of the curse pronounced upon those who shall put a stumbling block in their brother's way. The

the good. Yet the church is the fold of the Good Shepherd, and there is salvation therein for all who

said, and meet you next Sunday?

ly in my face. Poor boy

ed, and he

November

e many. What they can be going to do, or what plot they are hatching, I cannot discover, only I fear that it is some design for vengeance upon the Danes--some dark treachery plotted against those in our midst; and, if such is

ay, Sunday, N

e part of the pagans who dwell amongst us. Why, they are but one in five in this neighbourhood; hardly that. I determined to give the message in my own way, for I could not keep silent, lest, through fault of mine, any of my sheep should perish. So I preached upon the Saint of the day, who was pre-eminently a man of peace, and I t

ministers of darkness themselves. So I spoke on the Christian duties of love and forgiveness, and exhorted all present to take joyfully the chastisement of the Lord, even like holy Job; and th

the sheriff has much to do with it. He wants to keep good people at h

congregation yet more so. All seemed to apprehend coming evil. Instead of returning cheerfully home

lready hinted; and, as I drew near a group standing behind the gre

hat was the fellow, Siric of the Wold; "a fine ho

f peace," returned another; "he ha

ould have turned cu

lting, robbing, and murde

them, for I could no l

"hast thou come to Aescend

ejoicing that they were not exposed to such trials as we. J

what didst thou say of

throats who live in our midst, and who murder and rob

ages have occu

cattle from my farm down the water ear

now who the

l; they were

was so recent, and the excitement of the s

ngered to pray, as he generally does, at his brother's tomb, and, noticing us,

d herds. I will make up the loss of the cattle, my brother the prior will have a mass said for poor Guthred, and he shal

not stand thus indebted to any man. I will repay myself at the exp

strod

Lady Hilda. I saw that he was ill at ease, but we did not mention the subject, wh

promised to meet Alfgar in the pin

oach, and saluted me with some emotion, as if some inward excit

ave you pondered my

ion. I will be guided by you in all things, and fulfil t

must be yet a high

s not wanting

le to stay

a number of oxen, I know not whence, and slaughtered two on the spot, and they have broached several barrels of mead; they will keep

d share the noon meat, after which I

he took his noon meat in the guest chamber, and I devoted all the

uilding up, and needed instruction in details; he seemed deeply impressed by the main facts of the life and teaching of our blesse

en nones and evensong were said together, for we could not keep the people t

her part of the way home, for I wanted to communicat

behind a heavy bank of clouds which filled the western horizon; and the wind, which was freshening to a gale, seemed to bear

e was the true object of the sheriff

f blood on hand which he wishes to have und

oke myste

ght going on amiss,

Alfgar, whom I had invited, with my br

ht? I fear his father is in some danger, as well he

hbert, I have ordered every one of my theows and ceorls to be obedient to your warning if they wish to preserve th

e sheriff has told them? I sa

my guest tonight, or at

; I may be wanted tonight, and

h houses, because, being burnt down in my father's younger days, it had been rebuilt in

rd under the gateway; before us was the door of th

ows and ceorls awaiting the arrival of their lord. We entered, El

lers made their entrance good; the drawbridge was