"We do not, perhaps, know all the circumstances of the case," replied the Vicar, "for his papers were destroyed by my people; perhaps he is no foe of mine at all, but if it were so, we remember that it is written, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.' Much more, surely, should we succour him if he be sick." "Yes, yes, you are right, doubtless, and I honour you for it," replied the doctor—"but come, let us visit the patient." The visit paid, the two men met again in the inn parlour down-stairs. "He is in a high fever," said the doctor, "and he will need great care and attention. It is too much for Mistress Susan—I will send you a nurse to-morrow. For to-night, Giles's wife can do all that is necessary." But Susan would not hear of this arrangement, declaring that she would remain at her post till the nurse arrived. -------------- Three weeks later two men sat upon a seat on the vicarage lawn. Again it was a Sunday evening, and the two men were the Vicar and the apparitor. "And you are sure that you are able to travel to-morrow?" said the Vicar. "Yes, I shall take it by easy stages—resting for a night at East Grinstead, and so reaching London on the evening of the second day." "London," said the Vicar; "then you go to make your report to the Government?" "No, Mr. Vicar, I have resigned my office of apparitor—I take up work of another sort in London." Then, in answer to a look of amazement, perhaps of inquiry, which the man saw depicted on the Vicar's countenance, he suddenly seized Mr. Tittleton's hand and shook it warmly. "Oh! Mr. Vicar," he cried, "how could you think it possible that I could again take up the accursed work which brought me hither? Do you know that each time that I saw you by my bedside, each time that I felt your cooling hand on my feverish brow, whensoever I listened to your soothing voice, my whole soul was moved with contrition and remorse. For I came hither on an evil errand—may God forgive me! "My report of Chiddingly might have brought about your death warrant. Oh, I thank Heaven that it was destroyed ere the mischief was done! And as I lay on my sick-bed, I surmised that you must have suspected all this; yet you and Mistress Susan watched over me with unwearied tenderness and patience—you snatched me from the jaws of death! And the thought of all this broke my hard heart! "Now I wish you adieu, my dear Vicar; but ere I go, let me leave with you a word of counsel. It is known to me that dangerous reports of you have reached London, and though I abandon the office of apparitor another will take it up, and your life may be in danger. Therefore, I beseech you to take refuge abroad, as so many of your brethren have done. Soon the clouds may roll by, but for the present hour of stress and trouble seek safety in flight, I beseech you." The Vicar shook his head sadly.