"Oh! if you don't know, that's another thing, but then 'twas for
nothing that the troopers flogged you? Well," he muttered, as Stead
walked off, "that's a queer conditioned lad, to let himself be
flogged, as I wouldn't whip a dog, all out of temper, because he
wouldn't answer a question. But he's a good lad, and I'll not bring
him into trouble by a word to squire or minister."
The children went off to gather cowslips, and Stead was able to talk
it over with Patience, who at first was eager to be rid of the
dangerous trust, and added, with a sigh, "That she had never taken
the Sacrament since the Easter before poor father was killed, and it
must be nigh upon Whitsuntide now."
"That's true," said Stead, "but nobody makes any count of holy days
now. It don't seem right, Patience."
"Not like what it used to be," said Patience. "And yet this minister
is surely a godly man."
"Father and parson didn't say ought about a godly man. They made me
take my solemn promise that I'd only give the things to a lawfully
ordained minister.
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