When all the screws were out but two, one above, one below, they beckoned the other two men, and these two drove large gimlets into the door, and so held it that it might not fall forward when the last screw should come out.

“Are all screws out?” whispered Cole, who was the leader.

“Ay,” was the whispered reply.

“Then put in two more gimlets.”

That was done.

“Now, men,” whispered Cole.  “Lay the door softly down outside:  then, up sticks—­into church—­and do him!”

CHAPTER XIII.

If Mr. Coventry, before he set all this mischief moving, could have seen the inside of Grace Carden’s letter to Henry Little!

“Dear Mr. Little,—­I do not know whether I ought to write to you at all, nor whether it is delicate of me to say what I am going; but you have saved my life, and I do so want to do all I can to atone for the pain I have given you, who have been so good to me.  I am afraid you will never know happiness, if you waste your invaluable life longing after what is impossible.  There is an impassable barrier between you and me.  But you might be happy if you would condescend to take my advice, and let yourself see the beauty and the goodness of another.  The person who bears this letter comes nearer to perfection than any other woman I ever saw.  If you would trust my judgment (and, believe me, I am not to be mistaken in one of my own sex), if you could turn your heart toward her, she would make you very happy.  I am sure she could love you devotedly, if she only heard those words from your lips, which every woman requires to hear before she surrenders her affections.  Pray do not be angry with me; pray do not think it cost me little to give this strange but honest advice to one I admire so.  But I feel it would be so weak and selfish in me to cling to that, which, sooner or later, I must resign, and to make so many persons unhappy, when all might be happy, except perhaps myself.

“Once more, forgive me.  Do not think me blind; do not think me heartless; but say, this is a poor girl, who is sadly perplexed, and is trying very hard to be good and wise, and not selfish.

“One line, to say you will consider my advice, and never hate nor despise your grateful and unhappy friend.

“Grace Carden.”

When she had dispatched this letter, she felt heroic.

The next day, she wished she had not written it, and awaited the reply with anxiety.

The next day, she began to wonder at Little’s silence:  and by-and-by she was offended at it.  Surely what she had written with so great an effort was worth a reply.

Finally, she got it into her head that Little despised her.  Upon this she was angry with him for not seeing what a sacrifice she had made, and for despising her, instead of admiring her a little, and pitying her ever so much.  The old story in short—­a girl vexed with a man for letting her throw dust in his eyes.