"The bishops be not the Church," replied he. "Let the Articles and Homilies be changed, with evil tendency, and then that is to change the Church. I go forth of her then at once; for she should be no longer the Church of my faith, to which I sware obedience, and she hath not that right over me to require me to change with her. But so long as these are left unaltered, what matter though bishops change? They are not immortal: and very sure am I they are not infallible." "What think you, Mother?" said Edith. "Children," replied Lady Louvaine, laying down her knitting in her lap, "I can get no further at this present than one line of Saint John: `He Himself knew what He would do.' I do not know what He will do. It may be, as it then was, something that none of all His disciples can guess. One step at a time is all He allows us to see, and all He bids us take. `He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out'; but also, `He goeth before them.' At times He leads them, I think, outside the fold; and if He is outside, and we hear His voice, we must needs go to Him. Yet is this rare, and we should make very sure that it is from without we hear the familiar voice, and not rush forth in haste when He may be calling from within. Let us know that He is on the road before us, and then we need have no fear to run fast, no doubt whither the road will lead. There be some sheep in such haste to run that they must needs go past the Shepherd; and then have they no longer a leader, and are very like to miss the right way." "You have the right, Lady Louvaine," said Mr Marshall. "`He that believeth shall not make haste.' Yet there be sheep--to follow your imagery, or truly that of our Lord--that will lag behind, and never keep pace with the Shepherd." "Ay," she answered: "and I know not if that be not the commoner fault of the twain. He calls, and calls, and they come not; and such sheep find many a sharp tap from the rod ere they will walk, never say run. Our Shepherd is human, therefore He can feel for us; He is Divine, therefore can He have patience with us. Let us thank God for both." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. Except, only. This, now a Northern provincialism, is an archaism at least as old as the fourteenth century. Note 2. Nevertheless. This strictly Lancastrian provincialism is supposed to be a corruption of "choose how." Its exact pronunciation can hardly be put into English letters. Note 3. This was a revival; for "persille" is found on the Rolls of Edward II. Note 4. This is the computation of Sir Edward Coke in his opening speech at the trial of the Gunpowder conspirators. Note 5. The little manuscript volume wherein this is inscribed, which is in my own possession, consists of sermons--not very legible, and mostly very dry by the Rev. Thomas Stone, their dates ranging from 1622 to 1666, with a few occasional memoranda interspersed. CHAPTER FOUR.