The news spread like wildfire through the village that "John Ibbetson's lass had well-nigh burned her hand ter t' bone for tamperin' wi' t' drink agaain;" and in the forenoon of the same day, the neighbour who had persuaded Sarah Ann to accompany her to that special service where a new life had dawned for her some months before, called to see what truth there was in the tale. As soon as she had entered the door Mrs. Ibbetson greeted her. "Aw thowt thee 'ud coom, Jane; hast t' heard aw got at t' drink last een? but," she said, holding up her mutilated hand in triumph, "Aw've gi'ed un a good waarmin' for its sen." "Eh, but it's an awfu' burnin'!" exclaimed the neighbour; "dost think, thou poor lass, at 'll keep thee from t' drink?" "If it doesn't, then aw mun cut un off, for t' Book saays it, and aw'm bound to mind what t' Book saays," answered Mrs. Ibbetson. "Saarah Ann," said her startled neighbour; "If thee thinks 'at t' good Looard bids thee hurt and maim thysen, thou'st maade a mistaak." "Nay, Jane, didn't preacher saay t' other neet from t' Book: 'If t' reet haand offeend thee, cut un off'? ay, and aw foound un, and reead un mysen when aw coomed hoom, and it's no mistaake, lass," said Mrs. Ibbetson eagerly. "But thee hast maade an awfu' mistaake, Saarah Ann; t' wooards be there, sure enoogh, but they doan't mean fowks mun goo cuttin' and hackin' at their own flesh. T' blessed Looard were poonished for t' sin o' t' world, and we've no reet ter be thinkin' we mun poonish oursen for our fro'ard waays." Puzzled and dumbfounded, poor Sarah Ann looked at her visitor for a while, and then asked despondingly: "And what do yond woords mean, Jane?" "Aw'll mak' it plaain ter thee, Saarah Ann; see here! t' knows t' good o' t' reet haand; thee never puts t' left ter aught if t' reet 'll do t' wooark, and t' Looard knows there be many a sin 'at's loike t' reet haand ter His fouks, and there's many a fouk as 'ud saay o' t' drunkin', swearin' waays: 'Aw can't gi'e un oop; aw mun ha'e a drop, or rap oot t' oath soom while, and t' good Looard 'll forgi'e un and let un inter t' kingdom by and bye;' but what does t' good Looard saay?" "Cut un off, cut un off," called out Sarah Ann, who had been hanging on her neighbour's interpretation with open mouth. "Ay, lass, thee sees it, and thee mun be willin' to cut un off before t' Looard 'll gi'e thee His forgiveness, and let thee inter t' kingdom o' His graace below; thee knows now 'at He never meant t' poor haand ter suffer for t' sin o' t' soul; if thee sins thee 'lt suffer; but thou mun never tak' t' poonishment o' thysen agaain; thou'lt cut off t' drink, lass; thou mun promise 'at ter t' Looard and t' fouks." "Ay, ay, Jane, aw'll promise 'at! aw'm not loike to forget coom a greeat while wi' t' hand ter mind me," said Sarah Ann, looking regretfully down at the useless member.