“It may be so,” answered Cuthbert; “but I fear me he has brooded over his wrongs and his sins until he is well-nigh beside himself.  My sister, let not thy patience lead thee into peril.  Remember what I have said, and whither I may be found.  I will take thy message to Philip.  He shall be bidden not to anger thy father further by seeking thee.  After that it is for thee to decide whether thou canst still live in such solitude as must then be thine at the Gate House, or whether thou wilt fly to me in the forest.”

“I will remember,” answered Petronella, rising to her feet; for even here, and at this hour, and with her brother for her companion, she dared not linger long.  “Tell my kind aunt that the Testament she gave me is the solace and happiness of my life.  I think of her words every day, and they are written on my heart.  Though I see her not, my blessing rests upon her.  I would that she could know what peace and joy she has helped to bring into my lonely lot.”

“I will tell her,” answered Cuthbert, as he took the slight form into his arms.  “She will be rejoiced to hear it, I doubt not.  I too, my sister, have shared some of that peace myself.  I have found that the faith in which we were reared, albeit it holds much of golden truth, has been so overlaid by artifice of man that the gold is sadly tarnished.  I have some deep love for it yet, but I love better the purer faith that I have learned from the written Word of God, and have heard from the lips of godly men of the Established Church of the land.  I have seen and heard much in yon great city, and methinks that all creeds have much that is true—­much that is the same; but it seems the nature of man to fight and wrangle over the differences, instead of rejoicing in the unity of a common faith; wherefore there be misery and strife and jealousy abounding, and the adversaries may well blaspheme.  But I came not to talk such matters with thee, sweet sister; they baffle the wisdom of the wisest.  Keep fast hold of the peace thou hast found, and let no man take it from thee.  I would I lived not in the midst of such weary war of words.  There be times when the heart sickens at it, and one is fain to lay all aside sooner than have to own allegiance to any one party, when one sees the bad as well as the good of all.”

Petronella’s eyes were wide with astonishment and perplexity.  She felt as though she had a very Solon for a brother when Cuthbert talked after this serious fashion.  But she too had heard from the Trevlyns of the Chase somewhat of the burning questions of the day, and she was not wholly uninstructed in the matter.

“That is one boon granted to us weak women,” she said, with a shadowy little smile.  “We are not called upon to take part in the world’s battlefield.  We may think our own thoughts, and go our quiet way in the main unheeded and unmolested.  But I am glad that thou dost see as I do, my brother.  It is sweet to find accord in those we love.  And now I must be gone; I dare not linger longer.  Heaven bless and keep thee ever!  I shall carry my daily load more lightly for this happy hour spent together.”