"Hal," said he, "take that gate off its hinges and bring it here"— pointing to a garden gate near at hand. The man readily obeyed, the gate was brought, and the semi-unconscious apparitor was placed thereon. Then the Vicar and three of the men conveyed their burden to the "Six Bells" Inn, the man was carried to his room, and before he left him the Vicar saw him safely placed in bed. "Take care of him, Giles," he said to the landlord. "Let me know how he is to-night; I will call and see him in the morning." That evening the Vicar had a long and very serious conversation with his old friend William Jefferay. All the family had supped together in the dining-hall, and now the two men were conferring on the event of the day in the library. "It is no light matter in these evil days to have a Queen's apparitor to spy and report, as this man intended to do," said Jefferay. "This man may return to his masters before twenty-four hours have passed, and no man can say what will then happen; to-day's uproar will make matters all the worse for us. Take my advice, Vicar, you have neither wife nor child to detain you in England: spend the next six months in Holland! Do you need money? I shall be proud to be your almoner. Oh, take my advice and go, ere the storm bursts!" "And leave my flock at the very first intimation of danger—perhaps to suffer in my place," replied the Vicar warmly. "Oh no, it cannot be done; and while I thank you, friend Jefferay, with all my heart, I beg you to abandon the thought of so base desertion—it would be a lack of faith in God; I cannot do it." William Jefferay sighed, and the matter dropped. -------------- That night the landlord of the inn came to the vicarage with bad news: the apparitor was moaning in pain, and seemed to be light-headed. Like many of his clerical brethren, the Vicar had some knowledge of medicine, and he now hastened to the sick man's side, taking with him some simple remedies. Susan had preceded him thither, for among her many beneficent offices she had constituted herself the "parish nurse" of Chiddingly, and in every case of trouble or sickness she was the first to be sent for. As the Vicar entered the room, Susan rose from her seat at the bedside and greeted him. "He is very feverish," she said. "I am afraid he is going to be very ill: I have sent to Hailsham for the doctor." "You did well," answered the Vicar. "I hope he will soon be here." Just before midnight the doctor arrived, and ere he saw his patient the Vicar related to him the circumstances of the case. The doctor listened with some amazement. "You and Mistress Susan are very good to this man, considering the errand upon which he came to Chiddingly," said the doctor.