"That do I not, Hodge. It will be when God willeth, and to the end He willeth; and all that He willeth is good. I have but to endure to the end: He shall see to all the rest. Farewell, dear brother; it were best that thou shouldst not tarry." As Roger came within sight of Staplehurst on his return, he saw a woman walking rapidly along the road to meet him, and when he came a little nearer, he perceived that it was Tabitha. Gently urging his horse forward, they met in a few minutes. The expression of Tabitha's face alarmed Roger greatly. She was not wont to look so moved and troubled. Grim and sarcastic, even angry, he had seen her many times; but grieved and sorrowful--this was not like Tabitha. Roger's first fear was that she had come to give him some terrible news of Christie. Yet her opening words were not those of pain or terror. "The Lord be thanked you were not here this day, Roger Hall!" was Tabitha's strange greeting. "What hath happed?" demanded Roger, stopping his horse. "What hath happed is that Staplehurst is swept nigh clean of decent folks. Sheriffs been here--leastwise his man, Jeremy Green--and took off a good dozen of Gospellers." "Tom--Christie?" fell tremulously from Roger's lips. "Neither of them. I looked to _them_, and old Jeremy knows me. I heard tell of their coming, and I had matters in readiness to receive them. I reckon Jerry had an inkling of that red-hot poker and the copper of boiling water I'd prepared for his comfort; any way, he passed our house by, and at yours he did but ask if you were at home, and backed out, as pleasant as you please, when Nell made answer `Nay.'" "Then whom have they taken?" "Mine hostess of the White Hart gat the first served. Then they went after Nichol White, and Nichol Pardue." "Pardue!" exclaimed Roger. "Ay, Nichol: did not touch Collet. But they took Emmet Wilson, and Fishwick, butcher, and poor Sens Bradbridge, of all simple folks." "And what became of her poor little maids?" asked Roger pityingly. "Oh, Collet's got them. I'd have fetched 'em myself if she hadn't. They've not taken Jack Banks, nor Mall. Left 'em for next time, maybe." "Well, I am thankful they took not you, Tabitha." "Me? They'd have had to swallow my red-hot poker afore they took me. I count they frighted Christie a bit, fearing they'd have you; but I went to see after the child, and peaced her metely well ere I came thence." "I am right thankful to you, sister. Tabitha, I have found Alice." "You have so?--and where is she?" Roger gave a detailed account of the circumstances.