CHAPTER XI. THE COTTAGERS

ed— “Well,MissGrey,ifit’sallthesametoyou,IshouldliketohearthatchapterintheFirstEpistleofSt.John,thatsays,‘Godislove,andhethatdwellethinlovedwellethinGod,andGodinhim.’” Withalittlesearching,Ifoundthesewordsinthefourthchapter.WhenIcametotheseventhversesheinterruptedme,and,withneedlessapologiesforsuchaliberty,desiredmetoreaditveryslowly,thatshemighttakeitallin,anddwelloneverywordhopingIwouldexcuseher,asshewasbuta“simplebody.” “Thewisestperson,”Ireplied,“mightthinkovereachoftheseversesforanhour,andbeallthebetterforitandIwouldratherreadthemslowlythannot.” Accordingly,Ifinishedthechapterasslowlyasneedbe,andatthesametimeasimpressivelyasIcouldmyauditorlistenedmostattentivelyallthewhile,andsincerelythankedmewhenIhaddone.Isatstillabouthalfaminutetogivehertimetoreflectuponitwhen,somewhattomysurprise,shebrokethepausebyaskingmehowIlikedMr.Weston? “Idon’tknow,”Ireplied,alittlestartledbythesuddennessofthequestion“Ithinkhepreachesverywell.” “Ay,hedoessoandtalkswelltoo.” “Doeshe?” “Hedoes.Maybe,youhaven’tseenhim—nottotalktohimmuch,yet?” “No,Ineverseeanyonetotalkto—excepttheyoungladiesoftheHall.” “Ahthey’renice,kindyoungladiesbuttheycan’ttalkashedoes.” “Thenhecomestoseeyou,Nancy?” “Hedoes,MissandI’sethankfulforit.HecomestoseealluspoorbodiesadealofternorMaisterBligh,orth’Rectoreverdidan’it’swellhedoes,forhe’salwayswelcome:wecan’tsayasmuchforth’Rector—thereis“atsaysthey’refairfearedonhim.Whenhecomesintoahouse,theysayhe’ssuretofindsummutwrong,andbegina-calling’emassoonashecrossesth’doorstuns:butmaybehethinksithisdutyliketotell’emwhat’swrong.Andveryofthecomeso’purposetoreprovefolkfornotcomingtochurch,ornotkneelingan’standingwhenotherfolkdoes,orgoingtotheMethodychapel,orsummuto’thatsort:butIcan’tsay’atheeverfundmuchfaultwi’me.Hecametoseemeonceortwice,aforeMaisterWestoncome,whenIwassoilltroubledinmymindandasIhadonlyverypoorhealthbesides,Imadeboldtosendforhim—andhecamerightenough.Iwassoredistressed,MissGrey—thankGod,it’sowerednow—butwhenItookmyBible,Icouldgetnocomfortofitatall.Thatverychapter“atyou’vejustbeenreadingtroubledmeasmuchasaught—‘Hethatlovethnot,knowethnotGod.’ItseemedfearsometomeforIfeltthatIlovedneitherGodnormanasIshoulddo,andcouldnot,ifItriedeverso.Andth’chapterafore,whereitsays,—‘HethatisbornofGodcannotcommitsin.’Andanotherplacewhereitsays,—‘LoveisthefulfillingoftheLaw.’Andmany,manyothers,Miss:Ishouldfairwearyyouout,ifIwastotellthemall.Butallseemedtocondemnme,andtoshowme“atIwasnotintherightwayandasIknewnothowtogetintoit,IsentourBilltobegMaisterHatfieldtobeaskindaslookinonmesomedayandwhenhecame,Itelledhimallmytroubles.” “Andwhatdidhesay,Nancy?” “Why,Miss,heseemedtoscornme.Imightbemista’en—buthelikegaveasortofawhistle,andIsawabitofasmileonhisfaceandhesaid,‘Oh,it’sallstuff!You’vebeenamongtheMethodists,mygoodwoman.’ButItelledhimI’dneverbeenneartheMethodies.Andthenhesaid,—‘Well,’sayshe,‘youmustcometochurch,whereyou’llheartheScripturesproperlyexplained,insteadofsittingporingoveryourBibleathome.’ “ButItelledhimIalwaysusedcomingtochurchwhenIhadmyhealthbutthisverycoldwinterweatherIhardlydurstventuresofar—andmesobadwi’th’rheumaticandall. “Buthesays,‘It’lldoyourrheumatizgoodtohobbletochurch:there’snothinglikeexercisefortherheumatiz.Youcanwalkaboutthehousewellenoughwhycan’tyouwalktochurch?Thefactis,’sayshe,‘you’regettingtoofondofyourease.It’salwayseasytofindexcusesforshirkingone’sduty.’ “Butthen,youknow,MissGrey,itwasn’tso.However,ItelledhimI’dtry.‘Butplease,sir,’saysI,‘ifIdogotochurch,whatthebettershallIbe?Iwanttohavemysinsblottedout,andtofeelthattheyarerememberednomoreagainstme,andthattheloveofGodisshedabroadinmyheartandifIcangetnogoodbyreadingmyBiblean’sayingmyprayersathome,whatgoodshallIgetbygoingtochurch?’” “‘Thechurch,’sayshe,‘istheplaceappointedbyGodforHisworship.It’syourdutytogothereasoftenasyoucan.Ifyouwantcomfort,youmustseekitinthepathofduty,’—an’adealmorehesaid,butIcannotrememberallhisfinewords.However,itallcametothis,thatIwastocometochurchasoftaseverIcould,andbringmyprayer-bookwithme,an’readupallthesponsersaftertheclerk,an’stand,an’kneel,an’sit,an’doallasIshould,andtaketheLord’sSupperateveryopportunity,an’hearkenhissermons,andMaisterBligh’s,an’it’udbeallright:ifIwentondoingmyduty,Ishouldgetablessingatlast. “‘Butifyougetnocomfortthatway,’sayshe,‘it’sallup.’ “‘Then,sir,’saysI,‘shouldyouthinkI’mareprobate?’ “‘Why,’sayshe—hesays,‘ifyoudoyourbesttogettoheavenandcan’tmanageit,youmustbeoneofthosethatseektoenterinatthestraitgateandshallnotbeable.’ “An’thenheaskedmeifI’dseenanyoftheladieso’th’Hallaboutthatmornin’soItelledhimwhereIhadseentheyoungmissesgoonth’MossLane—an’hekickedmypoorcatrightacrossth’floor,an’wentafter’emasgayasalark:butIwasverysad.Thatlastwordo’hisfairsunkintomyheart,an’laytherelikealumpo’lead,tillIwaswearytobearit. “Howsever,Ifolleredhisadvice:Ithoughthemean