"She and I do visit them and carry them relief when we can by any means prevail with the gaolers from compassion or through bribing of them to admit us. But it is not always convenient to let this be known, not even at home, but I ween, Constance, as thou wilt have me to call thee so, that Muriel saw in thee--for she has a wonderful penetrative spirit--that thou dost know when to speak and when to keep silence." "And may I go with you to the prisons?" I asked with a hot feeling in my heart, which I had not felt since I had left home. "Thou art far too young," she answered. "But I will tell thee what thou canst do. Thou mayst work and beg for these good men, and not be ashamed of so doing. None may visit them who have not made up their minds to die, if they should be denounced for their charity." "But Muriel is young," I answered. "Hath she so resolved?" "Muriel is young," was the reply; "but she is one in whom wisdom and holiness have forestalled age. For two years that she hath been my companion on such occasions, she has each day prepared for martyrdom by such devout exercises as strengthen the soul at the approach of death." "And Kate and Polly," I asked, "are they privy to the dangers that you do run, and have they no like ambition?" "Rather the contrary," she answered; "but neither they nor any one else in the house is fully acquainted with these secret errands save Mr. Congleton, and he did for a long time refuse his daughter license to go with me, until at last, by prayers and tears, she won him over to suffer it. But he will never permit thee to do the like, for that thy father hath intrusted thee to his care for greater safety in these troublesome times." "Pish!" I cried pettishly, "safety has a dull mean sound in it which I mislike. I would I were mine own mistress."