Did Steadfast see
only the burnished gold of the Chalice and paten he had guarded for
seventeen years at the cost of toil, danger, suffering, love, and
life itself? Did he not see and feel far beyond those outward
visible signs in which others, who had not yet endured to the end,
could only as yet put their trust by faith?
Mr. Holworth, as he stood over him and saw the upturned eye, was sure
it was so. No doubt indeed Ben thought so too, but poor imaginative
Ben had somehow fancied it would be with his brother as with the King
who guarded that other sacred Cup, and when all was over, was quite
disappointed that Stead needed his strong arm as much as ever, nay
more, for on coming out into the air and sunshine a faintness and
exhaustion came on, and they had to rest him in the porch before he
could move.
"O Stead, I thought it would have healed you," the lad said.
Stead slightly smiled. "Healed? I shall soon be healed altogether,
Ben," he said. He had with great difficulty and very slowly walked
to church, and Mr.
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