would do so in these days, when no honest man knows what they are up

to."

"That is true," said the Rector--"too true by half. But honest men

soon will have their turn, if that vile spy was well informed. The

astonishing thing is that England ever puts up with such shameful

anarchy. What has been done to defend us? Nothing, except your battery,

without a pinch of powder! With Pitt at the helm, would that have

happened? How could we have slept in our beds, if we had known it?

Fourteen guns, and not a pinch of powder!"

"But you used to sleep well enough before a gun was put there." Mrs.

Stubbard's right to spare nobody was well established by this time.

"Better have the guns, though they could not be fired, than no guns at

all, if they would frighten the enemy."

"That is true, ma'am," replied Mr. Twemlow; "but until the guns came,

we had no sense of our danger. Having taught us that, they were bound to

act up to their teaching. It is not for ourselves that I have any fear.

We have long since learned to rest with perfect faith in the Hand that

overruleth all. And more than that--if there should be a disturbance, my

nephew and my godson Joshua has a house of fourteen rooms in a Wiltshire

valley, quite out of the track of invaders. He would have to fight, for

he is Captain in the Yeomanry; and we would keep house for him till all

was over. So that it is for my parish I fear, for my people, my schools,

and my church, ma'am."

"Needn't be afraid, sir; no call to run away," cried the Captain of

the battery, having now well manned his own portholes with the Rector's

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