What would seem
intolerably dull to a lad now, was rest to one who had been rendered
older than his age by sorrow and responsibility, and the events that
were passing led people to consider religious questions a great deal.
But Stead was puzzled. The minister was not like the soldiers whom
he had heard raving about the reign of the saints, and abusing the
church. He prayed for the King's having a good deliverance from his
troubles, and for the peace of the kingdom, and he gave out that
there was to be a week of fasting, preaching, and preparation for the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
The better sort of people in the village were very much pleased,
nobody except Goody Grace was dissatisfied, and people told her that
was only because she was old and given to grumbling at everything
new. Blane the Smith tapped Stead on the shoulder, and said, "Hark
ye, my lad. If it be true that thou wast in old Parson's secrets,
now's the time for thou know'st what."
Stead's mouth was open, and his face blank, chiefly because he did
not know what to do, and was taken by surprise, and Blane took it for
an answer.
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