So you
must come, willy-nilly, or they may send worse after you."
Stead was a little consoled by hearing that his brother was there.
He suspected that Jeph would have consideration enough for his
sisters and for the property that he considered his own to be
unwilling to show the way to their valley; and he also reflected that
it would be well that whatever might happen to himself should be out
of sight of his sisters. Therefore he decided on following Oates,
going through on the way the whole question whether to deny all
knowledge, and yet feeling that the things belonging to God should
not be shielded by untruth. His resolution finally was to be silent,
and let them make what they would out of that, and Stead, though it
was long since he had put it on, had a certain sullen air of
stupidity such as often belongs to such natures as his, and which
Jeph knew full well in him.
They came in sight of the village green where the soldiers were
refreshing themselves at what once had been the Elmwood Arms, for
though not given to excess, total abstinence formed no part of the
discipline of the Puritans; and one of the men started forward, and
seizing hold of Steadfast by the shoulder exclaimed--
"As I live, 'tis the young prelatist who bowed himself down in the
house of Rimmon! Come on, thou seed of darkness, and answer for
thyself.
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