’Iamafraidheis，’saidWinifred，’yetmyheartwarmstothepoorlad，heseemssoforlorn。’
CHAPTERLXXIII
Morninghymn-Muchalone-JohnBunyan-Beholdentonobody-
Sixty-five-Sobergreeting-EarlySabbaths-Finnybrood-Theporch-Nofortune-telling-Themaster’sniece-Doinggood-Twoorthreethings-Groansandvoices-PechodYspryddGlan。
ISLEPTsoundlyduringthatnight，partlyowingtotheinfluenceoftheopiate。EarlyinthemorningIwasawakenedbythevoicesofPeterandhiswife，whoweresingingamorninghymnintheirownlanguage。Bothsubsequentlyprayedlongandfervently。Ilaystilltilltheirdevotionswerecompleted，andthenleftmytent。
’Goodmorning，’saidPeter，’howdostthoufeel？’’Muchbetter，’
saidI，’thanIcouldhaveexpected。’’Iamgladofit，’saidPeter。’Artthouhungry？yondercomesourbreakfast，’pointingtothesameyoungwomanIhadseentheprecedingnight，whowasagaindescendingthehillbearingthetrayuponherhead。
’Whatdustthouintendtodo，youngman，thisday？’saidPeter，whenwehadabouthalffinishedbreakfast。’Do，’saidI；’asIdootherdays，whatIcan。’’Anddostthoupassthisdayasthoudostotherdays？’saidPeter。’Whynot？’saidI；’whatisthereinthisdaydifferentfromtherest？itseemstobeofthesamecolourasyesterday。’’Artthouaware，’saidthewife，interposing，’whatdayitis？thatitisSabbath？thatitisSunday？’’No，’saidI，’IdidnotknowthatitwasSunday。’’Andhowdidthathappen？’
saidWinifred，withasigh。’Totellyouthetruth，’saidI，’I
liveverymuchalone，andpayverylittleheedtothepassingoftime。’’Andyetofwhatinfiniteimportanceistime，’saidWinifred。’Artthounotawarethateveryyearbringstheenearertothyend？’’Idonotthink，’saidI，’thatIamsonearmyendasIwasyesterday。’’Yes，thouart，’saidthewoman；’thouwastnotdoomedtodieyesterday；aninvisiblehandwaswatchingovertheeyesterday；butthydaywillcome，thereforeimprovethetime；
begratefulthatthouwastsavedyesterday；and，oh!reflectononething；ifthouhadstdiedyesterday，wherewouldstthouhavebeennow？’’Castintotheearth，perhaps，’saidI。’IhaveheardMr。
Petulengrosaythattobecastintotheearthisthenaturalendofman。’’WhoisMr。Petulengro？’saidPeter，interruptinghiswife，asshewasabouttospeak。’Masterofthehorse-shoe，’saidI；
’and，accordingtohisownaccount，kingofEgypt。’’I
understand，’saidPeter，’headofsomefamilyofwanderingEgyptians-theyarearaceutterlygodless。Artthouofthem？-
butno，thouartnot，thouhastnottheiryellowblood。Isupposethoubelongesttothefamilyofwanderingartisanscalled。Idonotlikeyoutheworseforbelongingtothem。Amightyspeakerofoldsprangupfromamidstthatfamily。’’Whowashe？’saidI。
’JohnBunyan，’repliedPeter，reverently，’andthementionofhisnameremindsmethatIhavetopreachthisday；wiltthougoandhear？thedistanceisnotgreat，onlyhalfamile。’’No，’saidI，’Iwillnotgoandhear。’’Wherefore？’saidPeter。’Ibelongtothechurch，’saidI，’andnottothecongregations。’’Oh!theprideofthatchurch，’saidPeter，addressinghiswifeintheirowntongue，’exemplifiedeveninthelowestandmostignorantofitsmembers。Thenthou，doubtless，meanesttogotochurch，’saidPeter，againaddressingme；’thereisachurchontheothersideofthatwoodedhill。’’No，’saidI，’Idonotmeantogotochurch。’
’MayIasktheewherefore？’saidPeter。’Because，’saidI，’I
preferremainingbeneaththeshadeofthesetrees，listeningtothesoundoftheleavesandthetinklingofthewaters。’
’Thenthouintendesttoremainhere？’saidPeter，lookingfixedlyatme。’IfIdonotintrude，’saidI；’butifIdo，Iwillwanderaway；Iwishtobebeholdentonobody-perhapsyouwishmetogo？’
’Onthecontrary，’saidPeter，’Iwishyoutostay。Ibegintoseesomethingintheewhichhasmuchinterestforme；butwemustnowbidtheefarewellfortherestoftheday，thetimeisdrawingnighforustorepairtotheplaceofpreaching；beforeweleavetheealone，however，Ishouldwishtoasktheeaquestion-Didstthouseekthyowndestructionyesterday，anddidstthouwilfullytakethatpoison？’’No，’saidI；’hadIknowntherehadbeenpoisoninthecakeIcertainlyshouldnothavetakenit。’’Andwhogaveitthee？’saidPeter。’Anenemyofmine，’Ireplied。’Whoisthyenemy？’’AnEgyptiansorceressandpoison-monger。’’Thyenemyisafemale。Ifearthouhadstgivenhercausetohatethee-ofwhatdidshecomplain？’’ThatIhadstolenthetongueoutofherhead。’
’Idonotunderstandthee-issheyoung？’’Aboutsixty-five。’
HereWinifredinterposed。’Thoudidstcallherjustnowbyhardnames，youngman，’saidshe；’Itrustthoudostbearnomaliceagainsther。’’No，’saidI，’Ibearnomaliceagainsther。’’Thouartnotwishingtodeliverherintothehandofwhatiscalledjustice？’’Bynomeans，’saidI；’Ihavelivedlongenoughupontheroadsnottocryoutfortheconstablewhenmyfingerisbroken。Iconsiderthispoisoningasanaccidentoftheroads；oneofthosetowhichthosewhotravelareoccasionallysubject。’’Inshort，thouforgivestthineadversary？’’Bothnowandforever，’
saidI。’Truly，’saidWinifred，’thespiritwhichtheyoungmandisplayethpleasesmemuch；Ishouldbeloththatheleftusyet。
Ihavenodoubtthat，withtheblessingofGod，andalittleofthyexhortation，hewillturnoutatrueChristianbeforeheleavethus。’’Myexhortation!’saidPeter，andadarkshadepassedoverhiscountenance；’thouforgettestwhatIam-I-I-butIamforgettingmyself；theLord’swillbedone；andnowputawaythethings，forIperceivethatourfriendsarecomingtoattendustotheplaceofmeeting。’
AgainthefamilywhichIhadseenthenightbeforedescendedthehillfromtheirabode。TheywerenowdressedintheirSunday’sbest。Themasterofthehouseledtheway。Theypresentlyjoinedus，whenaquietsobergreetingensuedoneachside。AfteralittletimePetershookmebythehandandbademefarewelltilltheevening；Winifreddidthesame，addingthatshehopedIshouldbevisitedbysweetandholythoughts。Thewholepartythenmovedoffinthedirectionbywhichwehadcometheprecedingnight，Peterandthemasterleadingtheway，followedbyWinifredandthemistressofthefamily。AsIgazedontheirdepartingforms，I
feltalmostinclinedtofollowthemtotheirplaceofworship。I
didnotstir，however，butremainedleaningagainstmyoakwithmyhandsbehindme。
AndafteratimeIsatmedownatthefootoftheoakwithmyfaceturnedtowardsthewater，and，foldingmyhands，Ifellintodeepmeditation。IthoughtontheearlySabbathsofmylife，andthemannerinwhichIwaswonttopassthem。HowcarefullyIsaidmyprayerswhenIgotupontheSabbathmorn，andhowcarefullyI
combedmyhairandbrushedmyclothesinorderthatImightdocredittotheSabbathday。IthoughtoftheoldchurchatprettyD-，thedignifiedrector，andyetmoredignifiedclerk。IthoughofEngland’sgrandLiturgy，andTateandBrady’ssonorousminstrelsy。IthoughtoftheHolyBook，portionsofwhichIwasinthehabitofreadingbetweenservice。Ithought，too，oftheeveningwalkwhichIsometimestookinfineweatherlikethepresent，withmymotherandbrother-aquietsoberwalk，duringwhichIwouldnotbreakintoarun，eventochaseabutterfly，oryetmoreahoney-bee，beingfullyconvincedofthedreadimportanceofthedaywhichGodhadhallowed。AndhowgladIwaswhenIhadgotovertheSabbathdaywithouthavingdoneanythingtoprofaneit。AndhowsoundlyIsleptontheSabbathnightafterthetoilofbeingverygoodthroughouttheday。
AndwhenIhadmusedonthosetimesalongwhile，Isighedandsaidtomyself，Iammuchalteredsincethen；amIalteredforthebetter？AndthenIlookedatmyhandsandmyapparel，andsighedagain。IwasnotwontofyoretoappearthusontheSabbathday。
ForalongtimeIcontinuedinastateofdeepmeditation，tillatlastIliftedupmyeyestothesun，which，asusualduringthatglorioussummer，wasshininginuncloudedmajesty；andthenI
loweredthemtothesparklingwater，inwhichhundredsofthefinnybroodweredisportingthemselves，andthenIthoughtwhatafinethingitwastobeafishonsuchafinesummerday，andIwishedmyselfafish，oratleastamongstthefishes；andthenIlookedatmyhandsagain，andthen，bendingoverthewater，Ilookedatmyfaceinthecrystalmirror，andstartedwhenIsawit，foritlookedsqualidandmiserable。
ForthwithIstartedup，andsaidtomyself，IshouldliketobatheandcleansemyselffromthesqualorproducedbymylatehardlifeandbyMrs。Herne’sdrow。IwonderifthereisanyharminbathingontheSabbathday。IwillaskWinifredwhenshecomeshome；inthemeantimeIwillbathe，providedIcanfindafittingplace。
Butthebrook，thoughaverydelightfulplaceforfishtodisportin，wasshallow，andbynomeansadaptedfortherecreationofsolargeabeingasmyself；itwas，moreover，exposed，thoughIsawnobodyathand，norheardasinglehumanvoiceorsound。Followingthewindingofthebrook，Ileftthemeadow，and，passingthroughtwoorthreethickets，cametoaplacewherebetweenloftybanksthewaterrandeepanddark，andthereIbathed，imbibingnewtoneandvigourintomylanguidandexhaustedframe。
Havingputonmyclothes，IreturnedbythewayIhadcometomyvehiclebeneaththeoaktree。Fromthence，forwantofsomethingbettertodo，Istrolledupthehill，onthetopofwhichstoodthefarm-house；itwasalargeandcommodiousbuildingbuiltprincipallyofstone，andseemingofsomeantiquity，withaporch，oneithersideofwhichwasanoakenbench。Ontherightwasseatedayoungwomanwithabookinherhand，thesamewhohadbroughtthetraytomyfriendsandmyself。
’Good-day，’saidI，’prettydamsel，sittinginthefarmporch。’
’Good-day，’saidthegirl，lookingatmeforamoment，andthenfixinghereyesonherbook。
’That’sanicebookyouarereading，’saidI。
Thegirllookedatmewithsurprise。’Howdoyouknowwhatbookitis？’saidshe。
’HowdoIknow-nevermind；butanicebookitis-nolove，nofortune-tellinginit。’
Thegirllookedatmehalfoffended。’Fortune-telling!’saidshe，’Ishouldthinknot。Butyouknownothingaboutit’；andshebentherheadoncemoreoverthebook。
’Itellyouwhat，youngperson，’saidI，’Iknowallaboutthatbook；whatwillyouwagerthatIdonot？’
’Ineverwager，’saidthegirl。
’ShallItellyouthenameofit，’saidI，’Odaughterofthedairy？’
Thegirlhalfstarted。’Ishouldneverhavethought，’saidshe，halftimidly，’thatyoucouldhaveguessedit。’
’Ididnotguessit，’saidI，’Iknewit；andmeetandproperitisthatyoushouldreadit。’
’Whyso？’saidthegirl。
’CanthedaughterofthedairyreadamorefittingbookthantheDAIRYMAN’SDAUGHTER？’
’Wheredoyoucomefrom？’saidthegirl。
’Outofthewater，’saidI。’Don’tstart，Ihavebeenbathing；areyoufondofthewater？’
’No，’saidthegirl，heavingasigh；’Iamnotfondofthewater，thatis，ofthesea’；andhereshesighedagain。
’Theseaisawidegulf，’saidI，’andfrequentlyseparateshearts。’
Thegirlsobbed。
’Whyareyoualonehere？’saidI。
’Itakemyturnwiththerest，’saidthegirl，’tokeepathomeonSunday。’
’Andyouare-’saidI。
’Themaster’sniece!’saidthegirl。’Howcameyoutoknowit？
Butwhydidyounotgowiththerestandwithyourfriends？’
’Whoarethoseyoucallmyfriends？’saidI。
’Peterandhiswife。’
’Andwhoarethey？’saidI。
’Doyounotknow？’saidthegirl；’youcamewiththem。’
’Theyfoundmeillbytheway，’saidI；’andtheyrelievedme：I
knownothingaboutthem。’
’Ithoughtyoukneweverything，’saidthegirl。
’TherearetwoorthreethingswhichIdonotknow，andthisisoneofthem。Whoarethey？’